It was the first time two jumpers have ever reached that height - one that only Cuban world record holder Javier Sotomayor has bettered - in a competition.

The Ukrainian won on countback, and both men got a good measure of what it will take to better the world record as they made unsuccessful attempts at 2.46m, one centimetre more than the Sotomayor's 1993 mark.

Also catching the eye at the adidas Grand Prix was the first 800 metres win for Kenya's Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha since his return from a year out with injury.

But it was the high jump which stood out as it produced another gripping competition in a season that has already witnessed massive competition in this event.

"This is good competition, fantastic," Bondarenko said.

"This is my best competition I think."

Asked about the prospect of the world record going this season, Barshim responded: "The high jump is in its golden days now.

"We are Super Men.

"I'm more convinced it will happen this season."

Qatar's world indoor champion Mutaz Essa Barshim cleared 2.42m in New York along with winner on countback Bohdan Bondarenko in what he described as the "best ever" high jump competition ©Getty Images


Asked if he thought the competition at the Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island was the best ever in the high jump, Barshim added: "I don't think so, I know so."

Russia's Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov cleared 2.42m indoors in February before setting the previous season's best outdoor mark of 2.41m in the opening Diamond League meeting in Doha.

With Olympic silver medallist Erik Kynard of the United States also on top form - he was fourth in New York with 2.32m behind Ukraine's Andriy Protsenko who managed a personal best of 2.35m - and Canada's Olympic bronze medallist Derek Drouin also in outstanding form, the world record looks more vulnerable than it has been for many years.

While Barshim worked his way up to 2.32m, Bondarenko - who also made three attempts at the world record in winning the Marrakesh World Challenge meeting last week with 2.39m - gambled after clearing 2.25m, only returning when the bar stood at 2.35m, which he cleared first time.

Barshim took three attempts to better 2.35m, and after continuing on to 2.42m, he tried once at 2.44m before having two attempts at 2.46m.

The two men thus join Ukhov, Carlo Thränhardt of West Germany and Patrik Sjöberg of Sweden as the only men to have reached 2.42m other than Sotomayor.

Rudisha clocked a relatively sedate 1min 44.63sec to earn his first victory since returning from the knee injury, with Mark English of Ireland second in 1:45.03 and Duane Solomon of the US third in 1:45.03.

With Jamaica's Usain Bolt still absent from competition as he reaches full fitness after recovering from a foot injury, the training partner who temporarily took over his world 100m when he false-started in 2011, Yohan Blake, performed disappointingly as he clocked 10.21sec to finish second to compatriot Nesta Carter, who won in 10.09.

There was disappointment too for Britain's world and former Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu as she finished eighth and last in a time of 53.14, with victory going to US runner Francena McCorory in 50.15.

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