Pole vault star McCartney in Potts Classic form

Back this season from three years out with injury Eliza McCartney pole vaulting in Hastings today(Wednesday). Photo / Paul Taylor.

The growing love affair top track and field athletes have with Hastings’ William Nelson athletics precinct for achieving their best performances with the arrival of some of the stars for a special event ahead of Saturday’s Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic.

Among the lineup at Mitre 10 Sports Park meeting was 2016 Olympic Games women’s pole vault bronze medallist Eliza McCartney, who has a personal best of 4.94 metres from 2018 but at the age now of 26 coming back this season after three years away with injury and needing a current leap of at least 4.71m to qualify for this year’s World championships in Budapest.

But it’s increasingly tough competition, with 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Imogen Ayris and current World-ranked No 11 Olivia McTaggart, who achieved a personal best of 4.65m at the national championships in Hastings last year, both also in the mix.

McCartney jumped 4.21m off a short run-up in what is the early stages of her bid, with a pole vault also scheduled for Saturday’s classic which has attracted one of the best fields of athletes since the event was first held as the Sylva Potts Classic 22 years ago.

A satisfactory afternoon for Eliza McCartney in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

The 2-3 hours classic starts a 5pm on Saturday, and among a range of athletes is sprinter Tiaan Whelpton, the Canterbury sprinter who at the classic last year ran a 10.09sec 100 metres, 0.02s quicker than Gus Nketia’s 28-year-old national record but unable to be considered for the books because of above-allowable wind assistance.

He is also in the earlier stages, but more was being said of 21-year-old former Youth Olympics discus champion Connor Bell, who was hoping to break the New Zealand resident record 64.29m he set in 2021.

He recently threw 64.31m but it could not be recognised as the record because of a measuring technical issue.

His Wednesday-night attempt was under threat with heavy rain starting in Hastings a short time before he was due to step into the circle.