Irie back on track, but injury mars the day

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Complete Madness Sports - Press Release

February 7th, 2004 - Box Hill, Melbourne, Australia

Injury to training partner overshadows success.

Competing for the first time since June 2003 on 12 steps, Irie Hill
set a new Australian over 35 record in the Women's pole vault, with
her first jump in the competition. She also came very close to a new
UK over 35 record at the same event with her second jump!

At the Interclub competition, held in Box Hill near Melbourne, Irie
competed against her doctors orders whilst still recovering from a
viral infection which has meant she has been on antibiotics for a
week, and stopped her from travelling back to the UK for the World
Indoor Championships trials this weekend.

"I wanted to have a jump, and I warmed up okay, so I thought I would
give it a go. I decided to come in as high as possible to reduce the
chances of my illness catching up with me.", said Irie after the
competition.

The opening height Irie chose was 3.90m, a height she negotiated
successfully at the first attempt. Also clear at this height was
Rosanna Ditton of Box Hill. This height smashed the previous over 35
record for Australia, held by Dawn Hartigan who was watching the
competition having exited at an earlier height. The previous record
was 3.00m.

The bar was raised to 4.10m, which would have been a new UK over 35
record, but Irie was narrowly unsuccessful at this height, despite
jumping on the stiffest pole she brought to the competition! Rosanna
was also unable to clear, leaving Irie and Rosanna in a two way tie
for first place.

"I was not expecting to jump so well, so I didn't bring a lot of
poles with me. I will definitely not make that mistake again.", said
Irie. "Let's hope that next weekend at the Victorian Championships I
can close in on the UK record (4.00m held by Alison Davies) and also
the world record of 4.25m."

Irie and Rosanna will compete head to head for the Victorian title
next Saturday night at Olympic Park.

Sarah Wiltshire continued her great run of form, entering the
competition at the highest height she has ever tried, and going
clear first time to take out third place behind Irie and Rosanna.

In the junior section a new personal best and club record for Adele
Holland was overshadowedby an injury to junior athlete Claire
Wheaton, who has a suspected fracture from an awkward landing on the
mats when clearing 2.55m earlier in the competition.

Adele cleared 3.25m to improve the previous record by 10cm, and came
close to 3.45m with a week to go before Vic champs she is very happy.

Sarah Riseley continued her rehabilitation after a back spasm with
3.05m, but more importantly jumped on 13' (4.00m) poles for the
first time in her life.

More importantly, if they finish in the same order next weekend
Sarah and Adele would be second and third at VIC U20's.

"We spent 4 hours after the competition at the hospital with Claire,
it looks like a straight forward fracture althought the doctors were
not 100% sure. We wish her all the best to getting back soon!", said
the team afterwards

Full Results.
Women

1=R Ditton BH 3.90

1= I Hill MU 3.90

3. S Wiltshire MU 3.70

4. J Lynn IVANHOE 3.65

5. D Hartigan OMs 3.25

6. J Claffey BH 3.25

7. J Williams BH 3.25

8. A Holland MU 3.25 pb

9. S Riesley MU 3.05

10. G White BH 2.95

11. J White BH 2.55

12. C Wheaton MU 2.55

13. M Adams BH dnq


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