Smiles for Pole Vaulters

In an exciting turn of events, two New Zealand women pole vaulters, Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris, secured a spot in the finals despite earlier setbacks. Eliza McCartney, another talented New Zealander, easily cleared 4.55 meters on her second try, showing great promise for the upcoming finals. McTaggart and Ayris, however, had initially failed to clear the same height after successfully jumping 4.20 meters and 4.40 meters.

A surprising twist helped their case. Only 11 competitors cleared 4.55 meters, leaving room for at least one more in the finals. This meant that vaulters who had cleared 4.40 meters without missing any attempts could still qualify. With no one else clearing 4.55 meters, all three New Zealanders, including McCartney, advanced to the finals on Wednesday.

Eliza McCartney, who won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, seemed in top form, confidently clearing the height with ease. She expressed her excitement, saying, “I felt really good out there. I was really in control; my body felt good.”

Imogen Ayris was unsure of her chances until she saw her coach’s celebratory reaction. She recalled, “I knew a lot of girls had missed at 4.55m and that a lot of us were tied. I wasn’t sure how many, but then I saw my coach up in the stands with his arms in the air, and I knew we were in!”

Olivia McTaggart expressed mixed emotions, feeling disappointed in her performance but relieved to have another chance in the finals. “I’ll put absolutely everything into the final and take the opportunity. I know I have a lot more in me,” she said.

While the pole vaulters enjoyed their unexpected success, New Zealand discus thrower Connor Bell faced disappointment. Bell threw 62.88 meters, tying with American-based Samoan representative Alex Rose for 12th place. Unfortunately, Rose advanced to the finals due to a better second-best throw, eliminating Bell from the competition. Despite the setback, Bell’s efforts were commendable in such a close contest.