10.07.2011

DAY 4: Parnov & Carli win silver on 'Australia Day' at WYC11

Silver medals to Liz Parnov in the pole vault and Sarah Carli in the 400m hurdles have launched Australia to equal tenth on the medal tally at the 2011 IAAF world youth championships.

Entering the competition at 4.00m, 10 centimetres higher than that which she qualified with, the Flame athlete Parnov (WA) on first attempt sailed smoothly into the following round before a 4.10m clearance and two passes. She took to the runway and cleared again at a new season best of 4.20m before stumbling at 4.25m.

Parnov is the 2010 Youth Olympics silver medallist and a Commonwealth Games representative from last year. This experience yet another important stepping stone in her continuing development.

“Another silver medal, it’s becoming a bit of a habit,” Parnov joked.

“I’ve got a new run-up this year and I am using new poles so a silver medal is a good result.

“Obviously I would have preferred to win but to finish with a season best jump and some confidence in my technique is great.”

Australian under 18 champion Paris McCathrion (VIC), who competed alongside Parnov, finished 9^th with a 3.90m clearance, while the gold medal was won by German Desiree Singh with a world youth leading clearance of 4.25m.

On track from lane 8 in the 400m hurdles, Sarah Carli (NSW), who at these championships has improved her personal best by more than two seconds, blazed up the straight to win a silver medal behind American Nnenya Hailey (57.83) in a time of 58.05.

Carli’s result sees the 17-year-old join Jana Pittman (gold, 1999), Kim Crow (silver, 2001) and Lauren Boden (silver, 2005) as an Australian 400m hurdles medallist at these championships.

“I did not see that coming, especially from the outside lane,” Carli said.

“I’m just so excited, there are so many people that got me here – my coach, my family, this team – and to have a medal is just unbelievable.”

A further three top-eight finishes added to the pair of silver medals to ensure that day 4 of the championships felt like ‘Australia Day’.

Opening the account were Filoi Aokuso (NSW) and Keshia McGrath-Volau (QLD), who placed 5^th (50.85m) and 6^th (49.66m) respectively in the discus throw.

Eighth in the shot put final just days ago and the youngest athlete on the team at 15, Aokuso’s best mark was a strong close to her series, while McGrath-Volau was impressed by her consistent throwing beyond the 48 metre mark.

“I thought my throws improved as the series went on, especially after an opening foul and a really frustrating couple of throws to follow that,” Aokuso said.

“My last throw was great so it was a good finish.”

“Wow that was amazing, so much fun,” McGrath-Volau said.

“It was a little confusing communicating out there but I think that added to the experience, it was kind of cool to be honest.

“Plus all my throws were out beyond 48 (metres) so that’s a win.”

David Snowdon also added to Australia’s team score after leaping 2.09m for 6^th in the high jump.

Confidently clearing 1.95m, Snowdon progressed through 2.00m and 2.05m to remain standing in a field of nine. Jumping over 2.09m, just one centimetre from his personal best (2.10m), Snowdon narrowly missed all three attempts at 2.13m as local hero Gael Levecque (2.16m) won gold.

“I didn’t expect to do this well so I can’t complain at all,” Snowdon said.

“I was so comfortable in the early stages, but at 2.13m I couldn’t recollect as well as I’d hoped so what can you do.

“Let’s do this again at world juniors in Barcelona though, I can’t wait.”

In other Australian results:

-       Brad Aiton (QLD) was the first Australian to finish the 10,000m walk in 45:00.02 (16th), with Jesse Osborne (QLD) stopping the clock two spots behind him (45:11.78). In a dramatic end, Russian winner and current world leader Pavel Parshin (40:51.31, CR) was awarded the gold in after a post-race disqualification to Manuel Soto (COL), the first across the line.

-       Melissa-Maree Farrington (NSW) rounded out her seven-event heptathlon series with the personal best in javelin throw (35.08m) as well 5.71m (w: +1.1) in the long jump and 2:27.09 in the 800m. At the close of competition she was 10^th with 5109 points.

-       Australian team captain Monica Brennan (VIC) ran 23.78 (w: -0.6), quicker than Beijing Olympics silver medallist Sally Pearson did at these championships in 2003, for second in her semi-final of the 200m. She now joins the last eight in a race for medals tomorrow.

-       100m finalist Hugh Donovan (QLD) burst out of the blocks to cross in 21.46 (second) and automatically advance to tomorrow’s 200m final.

-       Youth Olympian Elliott Lang (NSW) heaved 69.39m on his third attempt to progress to tomorrow’s javelin final. Australian under 18 champion William White (QLD) was 7th in his pool thanks to a 65.89m best mark and, unfortunately, missed the top 12 by one spot.

Competition concludes in Lille tomorrow, with Australian team captain and Youth Olympian Brodie Cross (pole vault) set to join Brennan (200m), Donovan (200m), White (javelin) and Lang (javelin) in finals action.

Stay tuned to the 2011 world youth championships here at athletics.com.au, on Facebook with the Australian Athletics Tour or as part of the AthsAust conversation on Twitter.
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To view full results from day four of the 2011 IAAF world youth championships, please click here.