Boyd and Parnov Earn Olympic Nomination

WAIS pole vaulters Alana Boyd and Liz Parnov have become the latest WA athletes to earn Olympic nomination after meeting the selection criteria at the Olympic Selection Trials in Melbourne on the weekend.

Having already set Olympic A-qualifying standard jumps during their summer campaigns, both athletes knew a top two finish would suffice for Australian Olympic Team nomination, and in cold, wet and windy conditions in Melbourne, it was just as well, as vaulting proved tough going.

Parnov – who is in line for her first Olympic campaign – secured a minor upset in winning the competition on count back from her training partner Alana Boyd after clearing 4.45m on the first attempt.

Boyd – who has enjoyed a career best run of form in 2012, which culminated in her breaking the Australian women’s pole vault record recently (4.76m) also cleared the 4.45m mark, but at her third attempt.

Athletics Australia today confirmed Boyd and Parnov amongst a list of 17 athletes that will be nominated to the AOC for selection, adding to the earlier pre-nomination of WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle, who was identified following an impressive showing at last year’s World Championships in Daegu, Korea.

WAIS sprinter Ben Offereins – who ran second in the men’s 400m event in Melbourne – remains in strong contention for nomination in the potential Australian men’s 4x400m relay squad, should Australia qualify a men’s Olympic spot in up-coming competition.