15.07.2007

Parnov strikes gold in Ostrava

Western Australia's Vicky Parnov has been crowned World Youth pole vault champion in Ostrava overnight.

Parnov (4.35m) was joined on the dais by Queensland high jumper Josh Hall, his personal best leap of 2.20m securing him the bronze medal.

With one more session still to come in Ostrava tonight (AEST), it brings Australia’s medal tally to four following Hamish Peacock’s javelin silver and Adam Bevis’ octathlon bronze on day two of the championships.

“We had another ripper of a day; a gold and bronze, four more PBs plus our medley team along with Jacinta Doyle and Bianca Maurer all made it through to their finals,” lauded team manager Sara Mulkearns.

Having set a World Youth best of 4.40m in Saulheim just weeks before the championships, Parnov was forced to forget about records as her attention turned to regaining the lead she had held since entering the competition at 3.95m.

Defending champion Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece stole the lead with her first-time clearance of 4.25m – a height at which Parnov had failed.

The bar moved up to 4.30m and Parnov missed once more before nailing it on her last attempt. Stefanidi failed twice at 4.30m and once at 4.35m and had to settle for silver. Parnov, meanwhile, pulled out yet another third-attempt clearance – this time at 4.35m – to set a competition record.

In front of a vocal Australian support group cheering from the stands, an exhausted Parnov then had three unsuccessful attempts at a would-be World Youth best of 4.41m.

Parnov’s gold medal adds to her family’s already substantial collection which includes her aunty’s 2000 Olympic pole vault silver medal (Tatiana Grigorieva) and her grandmother’s 1968 Olympic 400m bronze medal (Natalya Pechonkina).

Under the tutelage of her father and renowned pole vault coach Alex Parnov, the 16-year-old has already achieved so much at such a tender young age. Her vast international competition experience includes the 2005 World Youth Championships in Marrakesh (fourth), 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (sixth) and the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing (bronze).

The future looks very bright for the talented Moscow-born high-flier who calls Australia home.

In other results, fellow West Australian Rachel Birtles, who also trains under the guidance of Alex Parnov, cleared a new personal best height of 3.95m to finish a gallant seventh in the same final.

In the boys high jump, an ecstatic Josh Hall (2.20m) will be packing the bronze medal into his suitcase after improving on his personal best by an impressive 8cm. China’s Chen Wang was the winner, with a World Youth leading height of 2.22m.

Australians featured in three other finals on day four. New South Wales throwers Lomana Fagatuai (shot put - 13.71m) and Jamal Idris (discus - 50.99m) finished eighth and 10th respectively whilst Victorians Samantha Carberry (6:38.68) and Elise Clayton (6:41.74) both produced new personal bests in the 2000m steeple chase, crossing the line in ninth and 13th place.

Meanwhile, our girls medley relay team, along with 100m hurdler Jacinta Doyle and javelin thrower Bianca Maurer, have all qualified for tonight’s finals.

Olivia Tauro (3rd - 24.13) and Jane Larkin (7th - 25.19) were both knocked out in their 200m semi-finals last night but will have another opportunity to bring home a medal in the medley relay.

Along with Doyle and Selma Kajan, the Australian team (2:09.08) have qualified third-fastest behind Jamaica (2:08.04) and the USA (2:08.38) for tonight’s much-anticipated showdown.

After setting a new personal best time of 13.65 seconds in the heats of the girls 100m hurdles, Jacinta Doyle produced another quality 13.69 race in the semis. The Paul Hallam-coached athlete will endeavour to medal in tonight’s final and her training group from Sutherland will be right behind her.

Launching the javelin 47.61 metres, Geelong-based thrower Bianca Maurer finished third in her group and will be right in the mix whilst leading the order tonight. Distance talent Ryan Gregson (3:56.82), who finished third in Friday night's 1500m heat to automatically qualify for the final, will feature in the last individual event of the championships this evening.

Stay tuned to athletics.com.au for all of the Australian news and results from the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships. Visit Athletics Australia's World Youth Centre

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS - DAY 4

Girls pole vault final

1st    Vicky Parnov    4.35m   CR
7th    Rachel Birtles    3.95m   PB

Boys high jump final

3rd   Joshua Hall   2.20m   PB

Boys discus final

10th   Jamal Idris   50.99m

Girls 2000m steeple chase final

9th   Samantha Carberry   6:38.68    PB
13th   Elise Clayton    6:41.74    PB

Girls shot put final

8th   Lomana Fagatuai   13.71m

Girls 100m hurdles heats

2nd  Jacinta Doyle   13.65   PB   (Q)

Girls 100m hurdles semi-finals

3rd   Jacinta Doyle   13.69  (Q)

Girls medley relay heats

2nd  Australia (Larkin, Doyle, Tauro, Kajan)   2:09.08    (Q)

Girls javelin qualification

3rd    Bianca Maurer    47.61    (Q)

Girls 200m semi-finals

3rd   Olivia Tauro   24.13
7th   Jane Larkin    25.19