Cash-strapped Howe might retire after Melbourne

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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/co ... 22,00.html

Cash-strapped Howe vaults to record
Jenny McAsey
January 27, 2006
KYM HOWE set a new Australian and Commonwealth record in the pole vault yesterday then promptly announced she would be forced to retire after the Melbourne Games unless she received more financial support.

Howe, who has taken three months' leave from her job as a childcare worker in Fremantle to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, cleared 4.61m at the A-Series meet in Canberra, breaking the record of 4.60m set six years ago by Australia's pole vault pioneer, Emma George.

Howe took the mark with little fanfare, clearing the record height on her first attempt while meet organisers raced to the record books and belatedly announced her feat.

But in her own quiet way the 25-year-old has now surpassed Australian vaulters with much higher profiles in George, and Olympic silver medallist Tatiana Grigorieva who was second in yesterday's competition with a clearance of 4.41m.

Howe, who won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games behind Grigorieva, now has her sights set on first place in Melbourne. "I was so disappointed after the Manchester Commonwealth Games finishing second, so this time I want to win and I will do everything in my power to do it," Howe said.


"My goal today was to win the competition and I cleared 4.40 on my first attempt and that is my highest starting jump ever, so I figured the record was on the way."

She will go into next week's Commonwealth Games selection trials as favourite, ahead of Grigorieva and a host of up-and-coming vaulters. Six young athletes, including 15-year-old Vicky Parnov, jumped B qualifying heights yesterday.

Howe trains under Vicky's father, Alex Parnov, in Perth, with a talented squad of pole vaulters including Paul Burgess, who jumped 6m last year.

Howe missed the entire 2005 season after knee surgery, but said she had returned a much tougher athlete.

"Now I've got the desire to be number one in Australia, I'm tired of being number two. I want to be number one and get out there and win gold in Melbourne."