Nina Kennedy Soars to Australian Pole Vault Record, Eyes 5-Meter Mark

Australian pole vault star Nina Kennedy achieved a career-best performance, soaring to 4.95 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meet. This remarkable jump not only shattered her previous Australian record but also placed her fifth on the all-time world list. The 29-year-old's victory in Monaco, a venue she favors, marks the best women's pole vault performance globally in the last five years.

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I know that I am in really good shape and pole vault is so technical, and I just had to put everything all together.

Kennedy expressed confidence in her current form, attributing the success to technical precision and optimal conditions. "Monaco is the place to do it, I always jump well here," she stated, highlighting the supportive crowd and favorable runway. Her performance comes at a crucial time as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she aims to defend her title.

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Monaco is the place to do it, I always jump well here. It's a good runway, an amazing crowd and I am just really happy with how I jumped.

With her sights set on new heights, Kennedy has set an ambitious goal of clearing 5 meters at the upcoming Games. "I genuinely believe that I can jump 5m, and I know if everything aligns I can do it," she declared, embracing the challenge as "Project 5m." This pursuit of excellence is fueled by her resilience, having overcome significant injuries, including a year-long layoff due to a hamstring problem.

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I genuinely believe that I can jump 5m, and I know if everything aligns I can do it. Project 5m is here.

Kennedy's journey has been marked by perseverance. "Through those seven years of struggles, I just showed up," she reflected, emphasizing the life lessons learned in resilience. She credits sport for teaching her invaluable lessons that extend beyond athletics. Kennedy celebrated her triumph alongside fellow Australian Kurtis Marschall, who secured bronze in the men's event, while world record holder Mondo Duplantis won the men's competition.

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I would say through those seven years of struggles, I just showed up. That taught me a lot of resilience.