Parnov vaults way to London
Teenager Liz Parnov has jumped her way into Olympic contention in the pole vault after clearing the A-Qualifying height during a low-key club competition in Perth last night.
The 17-year-old daughter of highly-regarded coach Alex Parnov decided to skip today’s big Track Classic in Sydney to continue her season at home where the conditions favour the pole vault.
That move was vindicated when she cleared 4.50m for the first time in her career to become only the second women behind new Australian record holder, Alana Boyd, to meet the Olympic qualifying mark for London.
It was a massive 10cm personal best for Parnov who first made headlines when she was selected for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Parnov moves into fifth on the Australian all-time list behind training partner Boyd (4.66m), former record holder Kym Howe (4.65), former world record holder Emma George (4.60) and her aunt Tatiana Grigorieva (4.58), the former Olympic silver medallist.
