Video: Naoto Tobe of Japan stunt Asia with a 2.35m leap in high Jump

Naoto Tobe’s shock 2.35m clearance in the high jump highlighted the Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe on Saturday (2), the second stop on the 2019 IAAF World Indoor Tour.

Competing before a capacity crowd of 5000 at the Karlsruhe Messehalle, the 26-year-old produced the finest competition of his career, producing a clean card through 2.31m, his second Japanese indoor record of the night. He followed it with two outright national records: first, a second-attempt clearance at 2.33m and then another at 2.35m, which he topped on his third try. But he clearly has more in the tank, as illustrated by a pair of near-misses at 2.37m.

“My goal this season was get the national record but now I’ve already done that,” said Tobe, whose previous indoor best was 2.26m. “My next aim will be 2.40m.”

A two-time national champion, Tobe showed a hint of promise when he took bronze at the 2010 World Junior Championships, but didn’t crack the 2.30m barrier outdoors until last year when he improved to 2.32m.

Wang Yu of China equaled his 2.31m indoor best to finish second. Further back, Bahamian Donald Thomas was third at 2.26m.