Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand pole vaulter Imogen Ayris. Simon Stacpoole / www.photosport.nz
The Athletics New Zealand selectors have a dilemma on their hands as they try to finalise their squad for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland.
New Zealand’s three female pole vaulters are fighting for just two spots at the event.
On Monday morning, Imogen Ayris vaulted a personal best 4.76 metres at a meeting in France to gain the qualifying standard for the world indoors. Four athletes finished on 4.76m, with a Czech athlete Amalie Svabikova winning on a countback. Ayris finished third.
Olivia McTaggart also delivered a season’s best performance of 4.70m to finish in 5th at the same competition, while Eliza McCartney recorded 4.70m at the Auckland Champs on Friday.
The trio have now all met the entry standard for the championships, but nations are only able to enter two athletes per event.
Both Ayris and McTaggart are scheduled to compete again in Europe before the World Championship qualifying period closes.
McCartney, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, is scheduled to compete at the national championships in Auckland next week, but now may consider heading overseas to compete to help impress the selectors.
Ayris and McTaggart competed in last year’s World Indoor Championships, finishing ninth and eleventh respectively.
McCartney, who won the silver medal at the 2024 World Indoors in Glasgow, set the national record mark of 4.94m in 1998.
All three pole vaulters have also qualified for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Sprinters Zoe Hobbs and Tiaan Whelpton have run world indoor qualifying times in recent weeks, while shot-putter Tom Walsh is also scheduled to compete in Poland.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
