top of page

Kiwi trio miss out on medals in pole vault

Eliza McCartney Paris Olympics pole vault
Eliza McCartney was the best of the three New Zealanders in the women's pole vault final. PHOTO: THE NZ TEAM

No medals to show but New Zealand has three of the top-13 women's pole vaulters in the world.


Eliza McCartney finished sixth-equal, while Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart ended 12th and 13th, respectively in the final at the Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time).


LATEST HEADLINES:


McCartney, who was the only finalist to skip the opening height of 4.40m, cleared 4.60m and 4.70m with her first attempts, before failing with all three attempts at 4.80m, leaving her in a three-way tie just outside of the medals.


The Rio 2016 bronze medallist when she cleared 4.80m had plenty of height on all three fails but could not get the timing right at the bar.


Ayris had a nervous moment early as she hit the bar with her first two attempts at 4.40m, before remaining alive with success on her last jump.


The 23-year-old went on to clear 4.60m on her second attempt for a personal-best, then missing all three at 4.70m.


McTaggart, 24, cleared 4.40m first time around, before needing three attempts at 4.60m to continue. She went close to getting over 4.70m but bowed out.



Meanwhile, New Zealand's Ethan Olivier has missed out on qualifying for the men's triple jump final.


Olivier, 19, had a best leap of 16.16m, which was well off the pace, finishing 15th of 16 competitors in his qualifying group and 30th of 32 athletes overall.


The automatic qualifying standard was set at 17.10m, which four jumpers achieved, while the 12th qualifier leaped 16.79m, 63cm more than Olivier.


The South Africa-based jumper had his best jump on his first attempt, before managing 15.91m and 15.98m.

Comments


bottom of page