Alana Boyd article (Australia)

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http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/lo ... ubsection=

Alana goes up and up


09.01.2007
By PAUL MUNNINGS ALANA Boyd knew she had a jump in her that was much higher than her personal best.
It was just a matter of time before she cruised past 4.40 metres.

The vault she was looking for came in Perth on Sunday when she produced a leap of 4.55m to equal the fourth best jump by an Australian and just about secure a place in the Australian squad for the world track and field championships in Japan in August.

The Alexandra Headland 22-year-old joined Sydney Olympic Games silver medallist Tatiana Grigorieva and Commonwealth Games champion Kym Howe as vaulters who have posted world championships A qualifiers.




There are three positions available in the Australian squad. Boyd knows what it's like to miss out on making a team for a major meet. She only narrowly missed selection for the Commonwealth Games and is eager to ensure she doesn't suffer the same fate again.
"Last season was a bit of a disappointment, missing out on the Commonwealth Games after jumping an A qualifier. I probably didn't jump as high as I'd wanted to do either," she said after returning from Perth yesterday.

"This season I was able to get a winter which was relatively injury-free which is a bit of a change and I've been jumping really well so far.

"I had a good couple of comps in November and I was looking forward to Perth and jumping with the Fremantle Doctor (wind) behind me."

The Queensland Athletics development officer, who has added an extra two steps to her run-up, which is now 16 paces, cleared both 4.20m and 4.45m at the first attempt and made it over 4.55m, equal to Grigorieva's height at the Sydney Games, at her second try.

She then had three attempts at a new Australian, Oceania and Commonwealth record of 4.63m, 1cm better than Howe's existing mark; however that height will have to wait for another occasion. "My last attempt was not too bad. I just didn’t rock back far enough," Boyd said.

Among those the Coast jumper beat on Sunday was Grigorieva's niece, Vicky Parnov, who took Boyd's Melbourne Commonwealth Games position.

Parnov's best was 4.20m, while Howe was unable to compete after cutting her foot in an ice bath on Saturday.

Batting illness, Alana's younger sister Jacinta finished second in the long jump at the Drug Free Track and Field Classic.

She was limited to just three attempts and had a best of 6.00m to be 45cm behind the winner, Kylie Wheeler. The Boyds' next event will be the national series round in Brisbane on January 20.