Eliza McCartney Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney has finished a disappointing ninth in the pole vault at the World Athletic Championships in London.
The New Zealander failed with her three attempts at 4.65m, having previously cleared 4.45m and 4.55m.
The 20-year-old had a disrupted build-up to the world champs, due to an Achilles tendon injury, and had to shorten her run-up to compensate.
She was well off her best of 4.82m, which she achieved in Auckland in February.
McCartney said before the final that her heel was holding up well, but she was feeling the effect of the reduced preparation.
"It was not good, but good at the same time," she said.
"Maybe the lack of vaulting in the last month caught up to me a little bit, and I was struggling to control my legs a bit - they were getting out of my control, and they were a bit jelly, and I was doing all sorts of strange things. It wasn't ideal but I can count my lucky stars [to make the final]."
