Eliza McCartney. Photo: Photosport / Lynne Cameron
New Zealand pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has recorded her equal third highest clearance to win a meet in Luxembourg as she ramps up preparations for next month's Athletics World Championships in Budapest.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medallist McCartney cleared 4.85m, her best height since 2019 and the second highest in the world this year behind World and Olympic champion, American Katie Moon.
"As you can imagine, I am really happy with the result today. It was a funny competition. I didn't find it easy today for no other reason that I wasn't as on as I'd like to be, but the conditions were great, and we had an enthusiastic crowd around the pole vault which made it so much easier. I was grateful for their support," McCartney said.
"I struggled a little bit in warm up and during the competition, but the heights were there today, and it was an outstanding result given that I wasn't feeling so good.
"I'm happy to hit a season's best and be back in the 4.80s again and to be jumping in the 80s again for the first time since 2019. There is a lot more in there, it is just small gains at the moment. I'm taking it one step at a time and looking forward to competing in Jockgrim on August 4 - which will be my last one before World Championships. I'm excited to line up at one of my favourite comps."
After several years of injury struggles, McCartney is returning to her best form.
The Auckland-based vaulter claimed the New Zealand title in Wellington in March and cleared 4.75m at the Australian Championships.
She has continued to impress during her European stint and will be encouraged by adding 10cm on to her season's best at the CAS International Meeting in Luxembourg.
The 26-year-old required two clearances at her opening height at 4.43m before advancing beyond 4.63m at the second time of asking.
She needed all three vaults to equal her season's best mark of 4.75m before she successfully soared clear with her second attempt at 4.85m to set a Meet Record.
Huiquin Xu of China placed second (4.33m) with New Zealand and 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Imogen Ayris third (4.23m.)
McCartney's PB and Oceania record mark of 4.94m was set in Jockgrim, Germany in 2018.
The 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest take place from 19-27 August.