Larissa sets world record, but just misses out on Gold

[completemadness]

COMPLETE MADNESS SPORTS - Press Release

Sindelfingen, Germany - March 12th, 2004.

Countback costs dear, Larissa finishes second.

Competing in the Women's 40+ category at the World Masters Indoors
Championships held the past weekend in Sindelfingen, Germany,
Larissa Lowe broke her own world indoor and outdoor record but it
was not enough to take gold.

Entering the competition at 3.00m along with Italian athlete Carla
Forcellini, both athletes went comfortably clear on the first
attempt.

Carla, who had a personal best of 3.40m coming into the competition,
then repeated her first time clearances at 3.20 and 3.30m, while
Larissa struggled at both these heights, clearing on her second and
then third attempts respectively.

At 3.40m the impetus swung back in Larissa's direction as she went
clear first time, while Carla took 2 attempts. Both athletes cleared
3.50m on their second attempts, leaving them locked together going
at 3.60m, which again they both cleared on the second attempt.

The 3.60m jump was a world record for both athletes, and the bar was
raised to 3.70m, with Carla marginally ahead due to less failures
overall.

Both came close to 3.70m, none more so than Larissa on her last
attempt hitting the bar off on the way down. As the coaches and
officials poured over the results, it became clear that the closest
of competitions had been won by Carla.

Meanwhile, Irie Hill's occasional training partner, Dawn Hartigan
from Australia, took out the gold medal in the Women's 45+ section,
setting a world indoor record in the process.

Full results available at (www.sindelfingen2004.de)
Women 40+
1. 40634 Forcellini, Carla ITA
3,60
2. 40640 Lowe-Endeman, Larissa NED
3,60
3. 40627 Auth, Gabriella HUN
3,00

Women 45+
1. 45501 Hartigan, Dawn AUS
3,35
2. 45575 Schoeppe, Jutta GER
2,40
3. 45502 Plammer, Sabina AUT
2,30