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Champion to launch new pole vault pit
2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alana Boyd will return to the Sunshine Coast tomorrow (Saturday 12 February) to celebrate the establishment of a new pole vault pit at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Alana, who currently trains in Perth, will demonstrate her winning pole vault technique at the new international standard facility at USC from noon to 1pm.
USC Sport manager Nathan Gordon said the University recently joined forces with Athletics Australia to provide for a high performance pole vault program on the Sunshine Coast.
“Athletics Australia has made a strategic commitment to link components of their high performance program to areas other than institutes and academies,” he said.
“The USC athletics track has been targeted, along with high performance coaches, to operate high performance athletes from USC facilities.”
“To initiate this partnership, the University and Athletics Australia have jointly purchased a new international standard pole vault pit that will be used by athletes of all levels, from grassroots through to Commonwealth and Olympic Games hopefuls.”
Alana’s father Ray Boyd – who won gold in pole vault at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982 and represented Australia in the sport at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games – said the new pit might just uncover Australia’s next pole vault champion.
He said there seemed to be greater interest in the sport now that Australia boasted the men’s Olympic champion in Steve Hooker, and women’s Commonwealth champion in his daughter Alana.
— Terry Walsh