Hamstring injury puts McCartney in doubt

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over one of the main drawcards for this weekend’s track and field nationals.

Pole vault Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney is in serious doubt for the NZ track and field championships in Christchurch.

The 22-year-old was a last minute withdrawal from an event in the Christchurch CBD on Wednesday evening due to a nagging hamstring injury.

McCartney said sitting out the event was more precautionary than anything but confirmed she is not a certain starter for the national championships.

‘‘I really can’t say at the moment but I am hoping I can compete,’’ McCartney told Stuff. ‘‘It’s touch and go.’’

After three years of niggly injury setbacks, McCartney was hopeful of a clean run in 2019 but she told Stuff last week she has been trying to manage a tendon injury in her hamstring.

Unfortunately for McCartney, who was hoping to have a solid pre-nationals hit out on Wednesday, the injury – that has ‘‘good and bad days’’ – did not want to play ball on Wednesday.

Fellow Kiwi Imogen Ayris won the pole vault event on Wednesday with a best of 4.01m – 19cm short of her personal best of 4.20 metres. Olivia McTaggart, who won the Sydney Track Classic last month, failed to record a height in three attempts.

Nick Southgate won the men’s pole vault with a height of 5.26m.

World champion Tom Walsh won the men’s shot with a throw of 21.01m, while his Kiwi rival, Jacko Gill, recorded 20.58m to finish second.