Eliza takes short steps on comeback

• Author: ATHLETICS Doug Laing
• Published date: 25 January 2023
• Publication title: Hastings Leader, The

Just turned 26 and nearing prime-time in age for a female pole vaulter, the 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist is using a short, eight-step run-up at the William Nelson track in the Mitre 10 Regional Sports Park

McCartney’s intent is to ease back into competition while recovering from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury which has kept her out of competition for about two years.

Targeting a World Championships qualifying vault later in the season and a place at the championships in Budapest on August 19-27, the run-up is less than half her longest, the 18 steps of her New Zealand All-comers (best set in New Zealand) record of 4.85 metres.

McCartney set the mark in Hastings on January 26, 2019, six months after her national record of 4.94m jumped in Jockgrim, Germany.

The North Shore Bays athlete achieved 4.21m in a Pre-Potts try-out on Wednesday, a pole vault won by fellow World Championships hopeful Olivia McTaggart, who will also be competing today, as will Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Imogen Ayris.

At least two other top Birmingham Commonwealth Games performers from overseas will also be at the three-hour Potts Classic, which starts at 5pm, both in throwing events.

England athlete Jade Lally won the women’s discus bronze medal and Taryn Gollshewsky, from Australia, was fourth.

Most of New Zealand’s top track and field athletes will compete in Hastings.

They will have goals similar to those of McCartney, entering a pathway they hope will lead to Budapest, and a year later to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, at a time New Zealand has possibly its...