Athletics: Pole vaulter claims Australian title

Melina Hamilton became the second New Zealand pole vaulter to take the Australian women's title in the past three years when she cleared 4.20m at the Australian track and field championships in Brisbane yesterday.

Two years ago, Jenni Dryburgh claimed gold over Olympic silver medallist Tatiana Grigorieva, and this year it was Hamilton's turn.

She beat Rosanna Ditton and Grigorieva, who could manage only 4.10m and is in danger of missing out on Australia's team for the world championships in Paris in August.

There was another victory for New Zealand in the pole vault yesterday, when J. G. Nel took the under-20 men's title with a 4.50m leap, very close to his personal best.

Rebecca Wardell, New Zealand's national record-holder in the women's 400m hurdles, finished a solid second to the world No 1, Australian Jana Pittman, in that event.

Pittman ran 53.99s; Wardell clocked 56.60s; and New Zealander Sonja Bowe ran 59.94s for third.

Wardell has satisfied New Zealand Athletics' B criteria for the world championships, with 10,000m runner Jonathan Wyatt and Gabrielle Gorst in the 20km walk. Beatrice Faumuina (discus), Valerie Adams (shot put) and 50km walker Craig Barrett have met the A criteria.

Olympian Michael Aish has technically met the IAAF criteria in the 5000m, although his best time was last season and he will have to produce a repeat effort when the American programme resumes in May.

Other New Zealanders to win medals yesterday included Ana Po'uhila (silver in the women's shot put), April Brough (silver in the under-20 women's 100m) and Matt Hunt (second in the men's 200m AWD ambulant final).

Stuart Farquhar won bronze in the javelin, with a throw of 74.17m.

The last chance to qualify for the world championships is the last leg of the Telstra A series at Runaway Bay next weekend.

- NZPA