After three consecutive first-time clearances at lower heights, Lake required all three attempts to continue in the competition at 1.97m.
But in a world-class line-up, with the rounds passing by quickly at the temporary venue hosting Wednesday’s field event finals in the centre of Zurich, the Briton maintained that momentum to fulfil a lifetime ambition.
Having jumped 1.90m for the first time at the age of 16 in 2013, Lake admitted that she had believed she would jump two metres each year since.
While it has not proven quite so straightforward, breaching that frontier before the World Championships will inspire belief that she can achieve a first global podium following her fourth-place finish in Budapest two years ago.
“The main thing between now and Tokyo is to keep the body healthy and don’t try and change too much,” said Lake.
“I think I could have jumped 2.02m with my two-metre jump, so it’s just trusting my coach and what we’re doing and do the same again, really.”
