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http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/no ... d-soaring/

Change in technique will have Boyd soaring
12:00a.m. 22 November 2007 | Tony Durkin
Sunshine Coast pole vaulter Alana Boyd is capable of finishing in the top six at the Beijing Olympics next year – if she can make some slight changes to her technique.

But according to veteran pole vault legend Dr Alan Launder, who was on the Sunshine Coast last week, the 23-year-old Bachelor of Business graduate faces a tough road ahead to make those adjustments.

“The biggest issue facing Alana is that she is a perfectionist, and she will feel very much out of sorts as she makes the changes,â€Â

I hasten to add that my words have been 'adjusted' - as is often the case in the media. I said that if she jumped 4.80, which she is certainly capable of doing, she could make the top eight -once you are there anything can happen -as we all know it can. But there was never any mention of gold medals!!!

You know you've arrived at the mainstream big time when your quotes are taken out of context by the media. LOL!! Congrats on another prodigy Alan!! Bubba

Her dad, Ray, was one fast dude . . .

Also a great guy - and now a very good coach to Alana and son matt (a 5.15 19 year old? - I just went up for a week to be an extra pair of eyes for him.

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/ma ... pic-berth/

Boyd gains Olympic berth
12:00a.m. 2 March 2008
Alana Boyd is off to the Olympic Games.

The Alexandra Headland pole vaulter last night won the Australian championship in Brisbane – the final item on her checklist to make it to Beijing in August.

She will join her parents Ray and Denise, who were in the track and field squads in Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980, as an Australian Olympian.

The 23-year-old achieved another Olympic A standard qualifying mark of 4.45m to clinch her first national title after a runner-up finish last year and third place in 2006.

An unsuccessful bid for a personal best of 4.60m once her gold medal was secured mattered little on a night of celebration.

Her victory, which secured automatic Games selection, continued a great championships for the Boyd family.

Matt posted a personal, and family, best of 5.35m to finish second in the men’s pole vault, while Jacinta took third in the women’s long jump.