Thobias Montler didn’t stand a chance as the competitors exchanged long jumps during the Diamond League night in Monaco.
The Swede tried to achieve the ultimate plank hit and was a good distance in front of the plank on several jumps. The third – and only approved jump – measured 7.96 meters and was enough for fifth place.
— 7.96 and a fifth place is not what I want, but I actually look past it today. It was rough overstepping, but it was also a bit over eight, so that’s what I’m taking with me, says Montler to SVT.
Maykel Massó, Miltiadis Tentoglou and Marquis Dendy were responsible for monster jumps.
Massó won with his 8.35 but Tentoglou and Dendy both jumped 8.31. The Greek grabbed second place ahead of Dendy as he had a better jump streak. Several times during the evening’s jumping, the trio had approved jumps around 8.30.
“If I had gotten a jump that was valid, it could have worked out,” says Montler about challenging the gala’s top trio.
All three were thus up to at least 8.31, and not even at the WC final in Eugene did three jumpers account for such long jumps.
The WC bronze then went to the Swiss Simon Ehammer who “only” jumped 8.16.