Eliza McCartney Gets Big Clearance in Pole Vault

By Adam Kopet

Eliza McCartney cleared 16-0.75 (4.90m) in the pole vault Sunday at the Vertical Pursuit event at Auckland's SkyCity.

It was a personal best by three inches for the New Zealand vaulter. It was also a mark that would have finished second in the men's competition.

However, her clearance will not count as a national record, or even a personal best, according to Marc Hinton of Stuff. That is because the runway was downhill, allowing the competitors to gain additional speed going into their jumps.

The performance was, nonetheless, a confidence booster for the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games. She is coming off a fourth-place finish at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

McCartney, 21, owns an official personal best in the pole vault of 15-9.75 (4.82m).

The Commonwealth Games begin April 4 in Gold Coast, Australia.