Parnov Closing in on Olympic A-Qualifier

Published On: 17 March 2016

WAIS athlete Liz Parnov is closing in on an Olympic qualifying height after clearing a season’s best of 4.40m for victory in the women’s pole vault at the Perth Track Classic last weekend.

With the London Olympian still competing off a shortened approach, Parnov entered competition at 4.20m, sailing over at the first attempt before also negotiating 4.30m and 4.40m with no blemish.

The 21 year-old also had three close attempts at the Olympic A-Qualifying height of 4.50m but couldn’t find a clearance on the night.

Parnov is however, finding form at the right time, with this weekend’s Brisbane Track Classic the penultimate stage of the domestic season, which culminates with the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney from March 31 – April 3 which double as Olympic Selection Trials.

“Happy with another improvement and season’s best this weekend,” Parnov said via her Instagram account after the Perth Track Classic, adding “Very excited for the last two meets of the Australian season.”

Parnov was joined in action by her elder sister Vicky, who finished second on 4.30m, with WAIS athlete Nina Kennedy third on countback, after also clearing this height.

Kennedy was competing a day after booking her selection for the 2016 Junior World Championships in Poland, after winning the women’s U20 pole vault at the Australian Junior Championships in Perth.

Kennedy cleared 4.25m for victory and in doing so, was well above the 4.05m qualification standard required. Fellow WAIS scholarship athlete Emma Philippe has also earned qualification, finishing second with a best clearance of 4.15m.  

On the track in Perth, WAIS hurdler Briana Beahan continued her recent hot streak, by setting another personal best, this time in 13.11secs to win the women’s 100m hurdles over Elizabeth Clay (13.73) and Danielle Shaw (13.77).

WAIS athlete Zoe Timmers won the women’s high jump after clearing 1.83m whilst track runner Lyndsay Pekin had a dash in the women’s 200m – with her favoured 400m event not on the competition schedule. Pekin finished fifth in 25.00sec.