Pole Vault Juniors Win All School Titles

Published On: 5 December 2012

Nina Kennedy won the U18 competition in Tasmania

The youngest members of Western Australian Institute of Sport’s pole vault program have made a bright impact after winning respective age titles at the Australian All School Athletics Championships in Hobart last weekend.

Young WAIS scholarship holders Nina Kennedy (U18) and Emma Philippe (U16) who are coached by Taryn Neville and assisted by 2010 Australian Commonwealth Games representative Amanda Bisk, proved too good in their age groups at this year’s All School Championships in Tasmania, with both girls impressing in trying competition conditions on the Apple Isle.

Kennedy sailed over at 3.70m to win the girls’ U18 competition ahead of Victorians Verity Cooper (3.60m) and Madeline Lawson (3.45m), whilst Philippe was emphatic in victory, clearing a joint competition record of 3.80m to win the girls U16 event ahead of the next best competitor at 3.10m, in NSW’s Elizabeth Baral.

The results have seen both girls earn qualifying standards for the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, with an announcement on team selection expected this week.