6th, 12th and 13th for Pole Vaulters

Last Night in the Pole Vaulting Women’s Final, the Trio of Kiwi Athletes had an outstanding performance.

Eliza McCartney, a bronze medalist in Rio, displayed her champion qualities in the women’s pole vault final. Eight years after her success, McCartney returned to near her best after struggling with injuries. She was the top performer among three New Zealanders in the final, marking a special moment for the country.

The competition started with a large field of 19 athletes. Some were eliminated after missing at 4.40 meters, but New Zealand’s Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart continued. Ayris missed once at 4.40 meters before clearing it, while McTaggart succeeded on her first try.

McCartney made her entrance at 4.60 meters, confidently clearing the height on her first attempt. Ayris, at 23 years old, set a personal best by clearing 4.60 meters after an initial miss. McTaggart had a suspenseful round with two misses but succeeded on her third try.

The bar was raised to 4.70 meters. Unfortunately, Ayris struggled and didn’t clear it, finishing 12th. McTaggart had three unsuccessful attempts and placed 13th. McCartney excelled, clearing 4.70 meters on her first attempt, reminding everyone of her outstanding performance in Rio.

As the competition advanced to 4.80 meters, nine vaulters, including McCartney, aimed for the height she cleared in 2016 to win her bronze medal. This time, she couldn’t match her past success, though her attempts were strong, finishing in 6th place.

After the event, McCartney expressed joy and relief, shedding “happy tears” as she spoke to the media. She was thrilled to compete and finish sixth, especially after a challenging preparation period. “I was stoked that I could jump well,” she shared, acknowledging that she still needed more competition experience to clear 4.80 meters again.