Russian Leaps Up Record Books

By Scott Bush

Russian high jumper Ivan Ukhov, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, lept to a #2 all-time mark indoors Tuesday in Prague. Ukhov lept to 7-11.25 (2.42m), which ties him with Carlo Thranhardt, putting him only behind Cuban legend Javier Sotomayor's leap of 7-11.50 (2.43m) set in 1989. Ukhov is having an all-time best indoor campaign. His leap Tuesday was his third mark of 7-10.50 (2.40m) or better, becoming the only athlete to have ever accomplished clearing the mark as many times indoors in one season.

With the IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships right around the corner, Ukhov heads to Poland as the heavy favorite to win his second World indoor gold medal (he won in 2010).