Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has finished fifth at the world indoor track and field championships, her first major international meet at elite level.
The 19-year-old cleared her opening height of 4.50m, opted out at 4.60m and incurred one blip before clearing 4.70m. She skipped at 4.75m and was eliminated attempting her outdoor personal best of 4.80m, set at this month's New Zealand national championships.
Having qualified for the Rio Olympics, McCartney's confidence grew as competitors exited from 4.35m onwards. Five athletes were left after 4.70m.
With hands blackened with adhesive, McCartney grappled to grip the pole in her three final attempts, but finished with a wan smile as the bar dropped on her opening 2016 gambit.
Previous world indoor and outdoor champion Yarisley Silva of Cuba was absent from today's competition, as were all Russian vaulters due to the country's current world governing body ban for state-sanctioned doping.