Kurtis Marschall Heads West

Commonwealth Games champion Kurtis Marschall has decided to relocate to Perth and train with the WAIS pole vault program in a high performance plan supported by Athletics Australia.

The 21 year-old South Australian travelled to Perth this week and will work with renowned pole vault coach Alex Parnov – who led Steve Hooker to Olympic gold in 2008 and has also overseen the development of world class athletes such as Dmitri Markov, Paul Burgess and Emma George.

Marschall said the opportunity to further his career at Australia’s national pole vault facility had influenced his decision to move.

“Perth is an amazing place for pole vault,” he said. “I jumped my PB of 5.80m over there during a week-long training camp earlier in the year and I see this as my next step as a professional pole vaulter. I really liked the facilities in WA and enjoyed the opportunity to train as part of a squad.”

“There are some great jumpers in Perth already. I think we all saw what a talent Nina Kennedy is and I’m looking forward to working within that elite group moving forward,” Marschall said.

“It’s obviously tough to be leaving Adelaide. My coach (Kym Simons) and family have done so much to support me and they’ll remain a crucial part of my journey ahead. Kym has been an incredible influence on my career and I can’t thank him enough for helping me achieve what I have in the sport.”

Athletics Australia head coach Craig Hilliard said he believes Marschall will make a success of his move West.

“This isn’t a decision that Kurtis has made lightly. Kym and all of the support staff at SASI have helped him become one of the best young pole vaulters in the world.

Simons, who led Marschall to an Olympic final on debut in Rio and a top four position at this year’s World Indoors in advance of his Commonwealth Games success, said he wished the young star well and indicted the door would always be open.

“I understand what Kurtis wants out of the move and we have parted on good terms,” he said.

“He knows he is welcome back if it serves his best interest at some time in the future. I wish him every success in the future,” Simons said.

Marschall will next compete at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 12.