Pole vaulters to take on Federal Street on Sunday for SKYCITY Vertical Pursuit

The Athletics NZ International Series hits Central Auckland on Sunday afternoon for the SKYCITY Vertical Pursuit Pole Vault competition on Federal Street in beside the Sky Tower.

New Zealands Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney will be in action on Sunday in a novel street pole vault competition that has attracted a number of international competitors.

The athleticism, power and speed on display in a pole vault competition will be experienced up close as the crowd will be within metres of the athletes making for an exhilarating event.

The 21 year old, just back from the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham where she finished fourth, clearing 4.75m for a new Oceania and New Zealand indoor record. She holds the New Zealand record at 4.82m, set at the Auckland Track Challenge in February 2017.

Up against McCartney will be two North Americans - Morgann LeLeux from USA and Anicka Newell from Canada.

Le Leux, a 25 year old from Louisiana has a best of 4.65m and narrowly missed out on the US Rio Olympics team and the 2018 World Indoor Champs team, finish fourth in the trials on both occasions.

Newell also has a best of 4.65m, set in 2017 and was a finalist at the 2017 London World Championships.

Also in the field will be the current New Zealand Champion senior and under 20 champion Imogen Ayris, fresh from setting a personal best of 4.15m at the recent New Zealand Championships.

Meanwhile, the mens pole vault will be an all Kiwi affair with six-time New Zealand Champion Nick Southgate leading the way. Southgate won his latest NZ title just a week ago in Hamilton and has a personal best of 5.47m, with a best this year of 5.35m.

Also in the mens field will be North Shore vaulters James Steyn who has a best of 5.00m set earlier this year and NZ championships silver medallist Ettiene Du Preez with a best of 4.70m.

Sundays activities get under way at 3:00pm and will conclude around 5:00pm.

The SKYCITY Vertical Pursuit is part of a series of international events in Timaru, Christchurch, Auckland and Waitakere. The next event in the series will be the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge on Sunday 25 March at Douglas Track and Field in Waitakere, West Auckland.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand