Marschall Reaches New Heights in Clermont Ferrand
Kurtis Marschall has set a new personal best competing at the All Star Perche event in France.
The indoor meet in Clermont Ferrand attracts a world class field of pole vaulters and Marschall was able to extend his career best by a single centimetre in finishing third with a mark of 5.87m.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek claimed victory on countback with a new world lead height of 5.93m which was shared by US veteran Sam Kendricks.
Pole Pawel Wojciechowski was fourth with current Olympic champion Thiago Braz of Brazil in fifth. Both men cleared at 5.80m.
Marschall entered competition with an aggressive strategy, opting to pass at the early height of 5.45m which put him under pressure early on at 5.60m, when he missed with his first two attempts.
He quickly regained his composure to sail over at the first time of asking at 5.70m and 5.80m before the 21 year-old produced a successful clearance on his third attempt at his new personal best height of 5.87m.
The Commonwealth champion has had the opportunity on a short European tour to jump against the lead candidates he will be up against at this year’s IAAF World Championships in Doha next September.
Liz Parnova competed in the women’s draw in Clermont Ferrand, jumping 4.40m for seventh place.
She cleared at 4.25m and 4.40m at the first time of asking, but was unable to progress at 4.55m. The competition was won by Swede Angelica Bengtsson at 4.81m on countback from Russian Anzhelika Sidorova.