Nina Kennedy sets new Australian Record with 4.82m jump at Sydney Track Classic

Nina Kennedy wrote her name in to the history books setting a new Australia Record of 4.82 metres at the Sydney Track Classic, Saturday 13 March, 2021.

Since jumping the Olympic qualifer of 4.70m in December, Kennedy has cleared the height six times, improving her personal best to 4.75m in the progress.

In Sydney, Kennedy entered the competition at 4.50 breezing over the height, before passing at 4.60 and securing another Olympic qualifier of 4.70m with ease.

In her last three competitions Kennedy then raised the bar to 4.82m with ambitions of breaking the national record. A change in strategy saw her first attempt 4.77. A miss on the opening clearance before again soaring over the bar gave the 23-year-old both a new PB and renewed confidence.

With the crowd behind her Kennedy roared down the runway and soared over the bar, becoming the highest Australian vaulter in history.

Not done yet, Kennedy reset and began looking ahead to Tokyo, raising the bar another five centimetres, with three strong attempts at the height pointing to the future.

“I have attempted it 5 or 6 times this season, so just to nail it on my first attempt I’m so happy,” said an elated Kennedy.

“Most comps we went from 4.70 to Australian Record of 4.82m so I am just happy it is done and I got it tonight,” 

WAIS Pole Vault Head Coach Paul Burgess was delighted at the result. “It was an amazing jump, she cleared it by a lot. Today we chose to go 77 and then to 82 to try and change the pattern we have been doing, going from 70 to 82 and I think that was just a good little circuit breaker to get it done.”

The jump now sees Kennedy simultaneously hold the Australia, Australian U20, Australian U18 and All Comers Records.

Kennedy will return to Perth before contesting the Queensland Track Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event, March 27.

Photo: John Veage