Published by
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
EUGENE, Ore. — In an interview four years ago, 16-year-old Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh was asked to name her sporting hero. “I like watching Maria Lasitskene,” she replied. Lasitskene is the Russian high jump queen, who at the time had won back-to-back outdoor world championships and was in the midst of a 45-meet win streak. She’s since added another world title and an Olympic gold medal, and she’s one of nine women in history to clear 6-foot-9 — or jumping over LeBron James. The women’s high jump final at the World Athletics Championships is Tuesday night at Oregon’s Hayward Fie…