Marschall Fourth at Shanghai Diamond League

Commonwealth Games champion Kurtis Marschall has taken fourth place in the men’s pole vault at the Shanghai Diamond League in China.

The 21 year-old was competing for the first time since his famous win at April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and his first meet since relocating to Perth to train with the WAIS pole vault squad.

Marschall was jumping in elite company, with the Diamond League fixture attracting French pole vault legend Renaud Lavillenie amongst many other world class names.

After passing at the opening height of 5.31m, Marschall required two attempts at 5.46m and a further two attempts at his next height of 5.61m.

Conditions in the Shanghai stadium offered a little of everything, with warm and humid weather permeated by brief showers.

As the competition advanced, Marschall placed himself firmly in medal calculations with a third attempt clearance at 5.71m reducing the 11-strong field to just four.

The Australian track and field star had three good looks at 5.81m, which would have elevated his personal best by a centimetre had he cleared. Instead, he settled for fourth place on countback from China’s Changrui Xue in third.

Only Lavillenie and Polish vaulter Piotr Lisek could negotiate 5.81m, with both men over at the second attempt. Neither could clear at 5.86m, leaving the Frenchman victorious on countback.