Štefela Wins High Jump at Banská Bystrica Meet with 232cm Jump
Banská Bystrica, Slovakia – Jan Štefela of the Czech Republic delivered a standout performance at the TIPOS Banskobystrická latka indoor high jump meeting on Tuesday, February 18, . Štefela cleared 2.32 meters, securing the top spot and setting a meet highlight.
The victory comes as no surprise to Štefela himself, who expressed confidence in his form. “I wasn’t surprised, from the beginning of the season I knew I had it in me,” he said in a post-competition interview. “It was just about finding the right rhythm and getting into it, because we trained quite a bit and there were some injuries, so I didn’t get to jump much. Considering we take this hall rather marginally, I think the result is pretty good.”
Japan’s Tomohiro Shinno and Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo finished in a tie for second place, both achieving a height of 2.30 meters. Woo, the defending champion and a three-time winner of the prestigious event, was unable to surpass Štefela’s winning mark. Mateusz Kołodziejski of Poland also cleared 2.28 meters, finishing fourth.
Štefela’s performance marks a significant step forward in his season. Just two weeks prior, he opened his campaign at the Beskydská laťka in Třinec, Czech Republic, with a jump of 2.25 meters. He only needed one attempt to clear 2.30 meters in Banská Bystrica, demonstrating a clear upward trajectory.
Despite the impressive height, Štefela noted areas for improvement. “Until the 2.32, the attempt was really good and the subsequent three at 2.35 were okay to watch,” he commented, indicating a desire for continued refinement of his technique.
On the women’s side, -year-old Angelina Topić of Serbia claimed victory with a personal best jump of 2.00 meters, establishing a new Serbian national record. Topić is now the second woman this year to clear the two-meter barrier, following Ukrainian star Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who currently leads the world rankings with a height of 2.03 meters.
Lamara Distin of Jamaica and Louise Ekman of Sweden tied for second place in the women’s competition, both clearing 1.96 meters. Eleanor Patterson of Australia also jumped 1.96 meters, finishing third. Lilianna Bátori of Hungary and Fatoumata Balley of Guinea tied for fifth place with jumps of 1.90 meters.
The event showcased a high level of competition, with athletes from across Europe and Asia vying for top honors. The Banskobystrická latka continues to be a key fixture on the indoor high jump calendar, attracting both established stars and rising talents.
Results – Banskobystrická latka 2026
Men:
- 1. Jan Štefela (CZE) – 2.32m
- 2. Tomohiro Shinno (JPN) – 2.30m
- 3. Sanghyeok Woo (KOR) – 2.30m
Women:
- 1. Angelina Topić (SRB) – 2.00m
- 2. Lamara Distin (JAM) – 1.96m
- 2. Louise Ekman (SWE) – 1.96m
Štefela’s win adds to his growing list of accomplishments, which includes a gold medal at the European Under-23 Championships and a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships. Topić’s breakthrough performance signals her arrival as a force to be reckoned with in the women’s high jump scene.