Parnov Competes in New York

Liz Parnov made her international bow for 2014 at last weekend’s New York Diamond League meet, finishing equal sixth in the women’s pole vault with a clearance at 4.25m.

The WAIS athlete and current national champion appeared in decent touch, after clearing 4.25m at her first attempt, before raising the bar to 4.50m – equal to her personal best – for three unsuccessful attempts.

That Parnov was able to attempt the height in her first overseas competition for the year, suggests that the 19 year-old is in good condition for an assault at this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where she will go head to head with her elder sister Vicky Parnov (WAIS), and former training partner and current Commonwealth Champion Alana Boyd.

The competition was won by Brazilian Fabiana Murer, who cleared an impressive 4.80m in the Big Apple for victory over American Jennifer Suhr (4.70m) and Cuba’s Yarisley Silva (4.70m). Murer’s clearance gives her the current World Lead for 2014, whilst Silva heads the Diamond League points race.

The Parnov sisters will head to a training base in Cologne, Germany, for Commonwealth Games preparation before meeting up with the Australian track and field team in the UK next month.

Emerging WAIS pole vaulters Nina Kennedy and Emma Philippe are also overseas, finalizing their preparations for July’s (22-27) World Junior Championships, which will be held in Eugene, USA.