Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Olympic gold medallist Nina Kennedy has made a successful return to the Diamond League, winning the pole vault event in Morocco with a season’s best clearance of 4.80m.
It was Kennedy’s first Diamond League event in 18 months, having taken time away from the sport due to leg injuries.
However, it was the West Australian’s third meet of the year, having also tasted success at the Maurie Plant Meet in March and last month’s national championships.
“I think the girls weren’t expecting me to come out and perform the way I did, but I’ve been training really hard, so I’m really happy with how I went tonight,” said Kennedy, who was the only woman to clear 4.80m.
“Sometimes travelling back and forth month on end, it can get really tiring, so it was kind of nice to have a year at home, but watching (last year’s) world championships at home, it was quite tough, but that made me so hungry.
“I haven’t flown in a while, so I had to relearn all of that and my comp routine, but I’m really glad I’m back.”
Meanwhile, Victoria’s Eleanor Patterson finished second in the high jump event in Morocco with a clearance of 1.94m.
Ukrainian Yaroslave Mahuchikh won after clearing 1.97m.
“I’m satisfied but not satisfied at the same time,” Patterson said.
“Coming home with a second is always a privilege, and I had a lot of fun out there, but I felt like I had much more in me.
“I had a really good couple of attempts at 1.97m, but I keep coming back with 1.94m.
“At the same time I travelled a lot last week, I flew to China where I competed in Xiamen and then flew back to Australia to pick up a visa for Italy.
“I stayed two days in Australia and then flew 24 hours to get here, so I have a lot of flying in my legs.”
