Vaulter rises to new height

ELIZAVETA Parnova has moved past her famous aunt Tatiana Grigorieva and into equal fourth place on the Australian all-time list with victory in the women’s pole vault at the Oceania championships in Townsville.

Parnova, 25, defied windy conditions to go clear at 4.60m on her third and final attempt yesterday, adding 4cm to her previous PB set earlier this year. In the process, she exceeded the career best of 4.58m by Grigorieva, the 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medallist.

The only three Australians to have vaulted higher than Parnova are Alana Boyd, Kym Howe and Nina Kennedy, all of whom spent time being coached by her father, Alex Parnov.

“It just felt so good,” said Parnova, who was presented with the gold medal yesterday by Grigorieva.

“The jump itself — I can’t describe it. I just closed my eyes and did the best that I could and it ended up being such a great jump.”

After setting a PB in January, she suffered a badly rolled ankle.

“It’s been such a difficult road back but I’m just so pleased that I managed to piece everything together,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the European summer now.”

Australian teenager Riley Day stormed home to win the women’s 200m, denying New Zealander Zoe Hobbs a sprint double. Day clocked a winning time of 23.51sec ahead of Hobbs (23.68) and Australia’s Nana Owusu-Afriyie (23.86).

Jeremy Dodson, of Samoa, was a shock winner of the men’s 200m in 21.11. Australian Jake Doran injured his right hamstring coming off the bend and did not finish. IN results of some local athletes, Damien Birkinhead finished second in the shot put with 19.55m, falling short of New Zealand’s Jacko Gill (20.75m).

Olivia Gross was ranked No.1 in the under-18 pole vault yesterday, clearing 3.95m in a competitive showdown with Elyssia Kenshole, who also logged a 3.95m.

Para shot-putter Marty Jackson won gold and claimed another world championships A-Qualifier in the process.