Vault Meeting
Summer Vaults Meeting, Mission Bay – 26 January 2013
Athletics came to the beach in the form of a summer of pole vaulting with international competitors at the Mecca Stonehouse Café Mission Bay on Saturday.
For the second year the crowds were entertained with some spectacular vaulting, Australian Blake Lucas winning with a height of 5.01m. The world university games finalist has a best of 5.55m and promised, if invited, to return next year to top this height.
“This is incredible we have a couple of similar competitions in Australia but not quite like this. The atmosphere is great,” said Lucas.
National champion and youth record holder Nicholas Southgate was second reaching 4.86m, with Russian Maxim Mischchenko claiming third on a count back ahead of Scott McLaren and event organiser Brent Newdick who all cleared 4.71m.
Southgate, who set a New Zealand under 19 record of 5.10m in Hastings last week, said it was an awesome concept. “With top international vaulters, everyone’s getting along and enjoying it and it’s just a good atmosphere. I would have liked to have jumped a bit higher, but it’s always tough adjusting,” he said.
American Megan Jamerson won the women’s competition with 4.11m. Jamerson with a best of 4.36m went close to clearing 4.30m. Eliza McCartney national under 17 record holder with 4.01m in Wanganui last Tuesday was second at 3.86m and Australian Paris McCathrion third with 3.86m.
Jamerson was taken in by the event saying that they had nothing like it in the States.
“This is an amazing atmosphere, the crowd was fantastic and everyone got me pumped up to really jump high,” she said.
Newdick said that putting on the event was hard work. “I learnt a few things from last year and I’ve still got a few more things to learn. But it’s good getting international athletes here, and more exposure showing people what we train hard for all the time allowing them to enjoy themselves and have a good time experiencing sport right in their own backyard,” said Newdick.
The group travel to Christchurch this week for a further competition at the ReStart Container Mall on Thursday.
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