Elizaveta Parnova has moved past her famous aunt Tatiana Grigorieva and into equal fourth spot on the Australian all-time list with a spectacular victory in the women’s pole vault at the Oceania championships in Townsville.
Parnova, 25, defied difficult windy conditions to go clear at 4.60m on her third and final attempt on Friday, adding 4cm to her previous PB set earlier this year.
In the process, she exceeded the career best of 4.58m by Grigorieva, the 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medallist.
The only three Australians to have vaulted higher than Parnova are Alana Boyd, Kym Howe and Nina Kennedy, all of whom spent time being coached by her father Alex Parnov.
“It just felt so good,” said Parnova, who was presented with the gold medal on Friday by Grigorieva.
“The jump itself – I can’t describe it.
