Nina Kennedy eyes Australian Record at Sydney Track Classic

Following six consecutive Olympic qualifying jumps of 4.70m or higher Nina Kennedy is chasing the Australian Record of 4.81m held by Alana Boyd, at the Sydney Track Classic, Saturday 13 March.

In December, Kennedy took just four days following the reopening of the Olympic qualification period to jump 4.70 and book her ticket to Tokyo. Since then she has cleared 4.70 at every competition she has competed in since, including a new personal best of 4.75m.

With the Australian Record in sight, Kennedy will line up at her first competition outside WA in more than a year with a target of clearing 4.82 metres, and adding her name to the record books once again.

Fellow Western Australian Liz Parnov will also be in action in the women’s pole vault, as she continues he qualification hunt for her second Olympic Games. Having first represented Australia nearly a decade ago in London.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kurtis Marschall leads the way in the men’s competition. With three automatic qualifying jumps of his own at 5.80 metres, he is eyeing an improvement in his personal best 5.81 metres outdoors.

Angus Armstrong will be looking to return to his pre-COVID-19 shutdown form that saw him setting personal of 5.65m, almost a year ago to the day. Currently sitting inside the qualification rankings, Armstrong is looking for a run of strong results to solidify his place at the Tokyo Games.

Also in action at the Sydney Track Classic is Peter Bol, who narrowly missed the 800m Olympic Qualifier in Canberra on Thursday. Matt Ramsden will line up in the 5000m national championships, hoping to secure an Olympic qualifier in a second event, following his 1500m time in February.

Photo: Zac Williams