Athletics: Eliza McCartney impresses in season debut

Eliza McCartney won at the Potts Classic with 4.70m. Photo / Photosport

Eliza McCartney has fired a warning shot at her Commonwealth Games pole vault rivals with an exceptional clearance in her first competition of the summer.

The Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist cleared 4.70m off a short 10-step run-up at the Potts Classic meet in Hastings on Saturday.

In her first hit-out since her failed world championships medal bid in August, McCartney eased over that height and then raised the bar to 4.83m, which would have eclipsed her Oceania record.

However, the 21-year-old knocked the bar down on all three attempts, although she twice appeared close to a clearance.

McCartney also revealed she snapped a pole for the first time in her career during the warm-ups, but it didn't put her off mentally.

The performance has given the Aucklander the confidence to have a crack at the world indoor championships in Birmingham in March, which precede the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Rising pole vault talent Olivia McTaggart cleared 4.30m for second, ahead of Liz Parnov from Australia on 4.15m.

World shot put champion Tom Walsh was also in polished early-season form, producing an impressive best distance of 21.14m. Walsh confirmed he will also compete at Birmingham, where his world indoor title will go on the line.

The Canterbury builder won over his young training partner Ryan Ballantyne on 16.97m and Nick Palmer on 16.33m, both having already qualified for the world junior championships with the 6kg shot.

No other Kiwi athletes bettered Commonwealth Games qualifying standards at the meet. The New Zealand athletics team for the Games will be named on Friday.

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