Eliza McCartney’s return before she starts at the Potts Classic in Hastings

Eliza McCartney’s comeback ended before it began, after pole vault champion Kiwi belatedly withdrew from Saturday’s Potts Classic in Hastings.

Having been haunted by an Achilles tendon injury since her last competitive outing in August 2019, the 24-year-old was finally ready to return this weekend as a second Olympics loomed in her sights ( if Covid-19 allows it, of course).

But despite completing his warm-up and running on pole, McCartney was reduced to a spectator and signing autographs on the edge of Miter 10 Sports Park, after failing to stop well enough to feel comfortable jumping.

His manager, Scott Newman, said Stuff which was unfortunately more of “the same old business” for the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, who since Rio has struggled with hamstring and Achilles problems, including a 2019 diagnosis of a genetic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the tendon.

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“It just didn’t feel quite right, it just didn’t release enough, the wind was a bit tricky, and getting back was probably not worth taking chances, so it decided not to start,” Newman said.

“She has time on her side, so there is no rush.”

Newman said McCartney’s next target could be the Capital Classic in Wellington on February 20, with the national championships in Hastings (March 5-7) another of “five or six” opportunities for her to jump in during the summer. .

In McCartney’s absence, 2018 Commonwealth Games representative Olivia McTaggart took the victory, matching her personal best of $ 4.50 million.

The most notable result of the match came in the men’s 100m, where national champion Edward Osei-Nketia suffered a loss to 2020 national bronze medalist Tiaan Whelpton.

The 20-year-old from Christchurch posted a personal best time of 10.37 seconds in his heat, where Osei-Nketia was second with 10.70, and then backed it with 10.47 in the final.

“Great PB for me, and also against the wind, so I’m very happy to come here and give it a good chance and finally show people what I’m capable of,” Whelpton told Sky Sport Next. .

Osei-Nketia had to settle for second place with 10.61, while 2018 Commonwealth Games semi-finalist Joseph Millar finished third with 10.79.

Whelpton said it was “pretty scary” to have Osei-Nketia behind him, but that since he had always been a good starter and then got caught by others, he was delighted to reap the rewards of his training, in what is becoming a strong contingent of Kiwi. male sprinters.

“It’s absolutely amazing and I’m very happy that we have such a great group of athletes, because we put pressure on each other and it’s nice to have people to race against.

Whelpton is now eager to join them in a relay at the International Track Meet in Christchurch on Waitangi Day.

Meanwhile, a highly anticipated women’s hammer throw showdown between national record holder Lauren Bruce and two-time Commonwealth Games medalist (gold in 2018, silver in 2014) Julia Ratcliffe became a fizzer, after that the latter would throw three fouls.

Bruce had broken Ratcliffe’s national record last September at Hastings with an effort of 73.47m, and after sending throws of 67.96m, 69.83m, 68.99m and 69.11m on Saturday, the 23-year-old finished in style with a noticeably larger brand. 72.28 m.

That made victory easy, well ahead of Lexi Maples’ 50.18 meters, who came in second.

In the shot put circle, former world champions Tom Walsh and Dame Valerie Adams were victorious.

Walsh, an Olympic bronze medalist in Rio, consistently threw more than 20 meters, with a best of 20.78, well ahead of Ryan Ballantyne’s 18.66.

“A little rough, as early competitions are always, but quite happy with the last three pitches, good intention, but the first three pitches were a different story,” Walsh told Sky Sport Next.

Adams, who, after two golds and then one silver, is aiming for a fourth Olympiad, is also happy to get his campaign underway, mixing three free kicks with a 17.94, 18.11 and 18.34, which was good enough to avoid. on 18.08 from Madison Wesche.

“It was definitely a day to shake off the cobwebs a bit,” Adams told Sky Sport Next.

“So many things to contemplate, but I am very happy with the way I acted tonight and the way I started. Obviously, I’m looking forward to the next competitions, taking more risks and seeing where we get. “