Nina Kennedy settles for silver in Glasgow amid windy pole-vault showdown
Australia's Nina Kennedy earned silver in the Commonwealth Games women's pole vault, missing gold as crosswinds hampered the final.
In the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Nina Kennedy took silver in the women's pole vault after a windy final that prevented athletes from matching their personal records. The crosswind at Scotstoun Stadium limited the top clearance to 4.65 m, 30 cm shy of each medalist's best. Kennedy cleared the bar three times from seven attempts, while Eliza McCartney secured gold on countback.
Despite recent hamstring surgery, Kennedy was fit but found the conditions challenging, missing three of her last four jumps. She acknowledged her disappointment, praised McCartney's victory, and highlighted the memorable moments of being the Australian flag-bearer and the supportive crowd. Kennedy emphasized that sport is about more than medals, noting the connections and experiences she gained in Glasgow.
Why it matters
The result illustrates how weather can affect elite competition and underscores the pressures on top athletes.
In this story