McCartney withdraws from meet
WELLINGTON: New Zealand polevaulter Eliza McCartney’s European season has been cut short after she sustained a heel injury in a Diamond League accident.
Before what would have been the 21yearold’s swansong this year, McCartney’s heel injury has become too painful to bear, forcing the Olympic bronze medallist to withdraw from the Continental Cup event.
Two weeks ago in Birmingham, McCartney landed in the pit where she plants the pole, injuring her heel and resulting in her having to withdraw from the Diamond League final.
While she appeared to be on the mend, with every intention of competing in Ostrava, Athletics NZ high performance director Scott Goodman says she was unable to plant her injured foot.
‘‘She was able to run during the week and planned to compete at the Continental Cup but she did a session and was trying to take off and that caused pain,’’ Goodman said.
‘‘She is at a level that she won’t be able to compete here.’’
She has not competed since Birmingham, and had been hoping to recover in time to be part of the AsiaOceania team for the popular meet.
Goodman says while she appears to be in good spirits the disappointment is evident in both McCartney and her coach, after she soared to new heights this season, surpassing the 4.90metre mark twice within a month.
Instead McCartney, accompanied by her parents, will head home to Auckland in the next couple of days to start recovery and base training to build back up to full strength.
Goodman says the injury is shortterm. — RNZ