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McCartney claims long-awaited Commonwealth Games gold
Sport Nation • August 1st, 2026 8:37 am
Eliza McCartney | Photo: Photosport
Eliza McCartney has finally added a Commonwealth Games gold medal to her collection, winning the women's pole vault in Glasgow.
The 29-year-old defeated defending champion Nina Kennedy of Australia, while fellow New Zealander Imogen Ayris secured the bronze medal to complete a successful night for the Kiwi team.
The victory marks McCartney's first Commonwealth Games title after claiming silver on the Gold Coast in 2018.
"It doesn't sound right to me," McCartney told Sky Sport afterwards.
"I wasn't expecting it, and I haven't won anything on the international stage before. It's a weird thing. I don't know, I just don't know.
"I'm really happy with how I navigated things today. It wasn't a high height [4.65m] but it doesn't have to be."
Both McCartney and Kennedy cleared 4.65m before failing all three attempts at 4.70m. McCartney claimed the gold on countback after clearing 4.65m on her first attempt, while the Australian needed two jumps to clear the same height.
"When I finished the comp, I thought I had won gold, but I was so lost. It wasn't a high, high," she added.
"Then to have the haka performed to us, I just lost it. I've never had that. It immediately hit home.
"The gold and the champion thing doesn't compute right now."
"Then to have the haka performed to us, I just lost it. I've never had that. It immediately hit home.
"The gold and the champion thing doesn't compute right now."
Earlier, para-cyclist Devon Briggs won New Zealand's first gold of the day, setting a Commonwealth Games record on his way to victory in the men's C1-3 1km time trial.
There was disappointment on the track for Olympic sprint champion Ellesse Andrews, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Wales' Emma Finucane. Rebecca Petch and Olivia King also exited in the round of 16, while Bryony Botha missed out on a medal in the women's individual pursuit after being promoted into the finals following the disqualification of two Australian riders.
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