Cloete takes high jump title

Hestrie Cloete was a surprise winner for South Africa

South African Hestrie Cloete clinched the women's high jump title with a jump of 2.00m at the World Championships in Edmonton.

Cloete, who was the world's top junior in 1997, is the reigning African champion and claimed the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics.

After her win, she said: "South Africa saved the best until the last."

That also proved true in the 4x100 relay, in which South Africa set a national record to win the silver medal behind the victorious Americans.

Ukraine's Inga Babakova also jumped 2.00m but lost on countback and was forced to settle for the silver medal.

Bergqvist could not live up to her advance billing

Swedish athlete Kajsa Bergqvist cleared 1.97m on her first attempt to edge Bulgarian Venelina Veneva, who cleared that height only on her second attempt, into fourth.

Veneva came into tournament with a season's best jump of 2.04m.

Women's high jump final:

1. Hestrie Cloete (Rsa) 2.00m
2. Inha Babakova (Ukr) 2.00m
3. Kajsa Bergqvist (Swe) 1.97m
4. Venelina Veneva (Bul) 1.97m
5. Vita Palamar (Ukr) 1.94m
6. Blanka Vlasic (Cro) 1.94m
7. Monica Iagar-dinescu (Rom) 1.90m
7. Dora Gyorffy (Hun) 1.90m