Korea's leading male high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok on May 4 competes in the finals of the men's high jump at this year's Korea Track and Field League's National Club Athletics Meeting at the athletic field of Naju Sports Park (unofficial title) in Naju, Jeollanam-do Province. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Eun-young and Yoon Hee Young

National high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok (Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps) has topped the world rankings for both the men's outdoor and indoor high jump.

Woo on May 4 won the men's high jump event at the Korea Track and Field League's annual National Club Athletics Meeting at the athletic field of Naju Sports Park (unofficial title) in Naju, Jeollanam-do Province. His jump of 2.32 m in the finals was a world high this season.

The athlete cleared 2.20 m on his first try and 2.24 m and 2.28 m afterwards. He then succeeded at 2.32 m on his first attempt.

Having tied Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and Vernon Turner, Earnest Sears and Darius Carbin of the U.S. for the world No. 1 ranking by clearing 2.3 m before the event, Woo beat them by 2 cm to claim the top spot but failed all three attempts at 2.37 m.

Woo is also the world No. 1 in the indoor high jump this season. He topped the global rankings in February after making the season's highest jump of 2.36 m at the World Athletic Indoor Tour in Hustopece, the Czech Republic. In March, he also became the first Korean to capture a gold medal in the World Athletics Indoor Championships by clearing 2.34 m in Belgrade, Serbia.

eykim86@korea.kr