Eliza McCartney showed the nerves of a champion to win a bronze medal in the pole vault in front of 70,000 fans in the athletics stadium this evening.
McCartney, only 19, seemed lifted by the capacity crowd that had turned up to watch Usain Bolt’s final Olympic run. She led the pole vault until almost the end, after first-attempt clearances of 4.50m, 4.60m, 4.70m and 4.80m, which equals her personal best.
The North Shore athlete missed her three attempts at 4.85m and slipped into the bronze medal position, but it was still a wonderful achievement for someone only setting out on her international career. New Zealand has now won 16 medals at the Rio Olympics.
Also in the athletics stadium today, Nikki Hamblin finished 17th in the 5000m final.
Another 19-year-old New Zealander, Lydia Ko, revealed all her talent today, too.
The international golf media has been full of praise for Ko for several years, saluting her calmness, strokemaking, down-to-earth attitude and ability under pressure.
Ko, just 19, has already won two of golfs Majors.
Today she was right at her best as she fought her way back into the medal reckoning in Rio.
Beginning the day in 21st position, she fired a 65, the low round of the day, to storm all the way up the leaderboard to second equal. Included in her round was her first hole in one in tournament play.
Ko has made no secret of her pleasure in becoming an Olympian and is dead keen to get on to the medal winners’ podium. She went a long way to achieving that goal today. Only former world No 1 Inbee Park of South Korea is ahead of her now, and only by two strokes.
An enticing final day of golf is in prospect.
Other New Zealand competitors who set themselves up for a possible medal today were the women’s K4 500 paddlers. Inspired by kayaker extraordinaire Lisa Carrington, the four won their semi-final in emphatic fashion to mark themselves as one of the teams to beat in today’s final.
There was disappointment today for the New Zealand women’s hockey team which, incredibly, finds itself filling the heartbreaking position of fourth at the Olympics for the second time in succession.
The New Zealanders created plenty of chances against Germany in their bronze medal play-off, but did not take their chances. The Germans mounted precious few attacks, but scored two goals, enough to earn them a 2-1 victory.
It was a tough result for the New Zealanders to handle, especially coming after the disappointment of finishing fourth in London in 2012. Kayla Whitelock’s team played some excellent hockey throughout the tournament, but could not quite come up with the goals when they were most needed.
New Zealand’s two road walkers in Rio faced torrid conditions, with Rio really turning on the heat.
Quentin Rew, in the men’s 50km, finished 12th, walking right up to his best. It was a high-quality field and Rew did well to be mixing it with some of the greats of his sport.
Alana Barber was 35th in the women’s 20km walk, finishing about 15 minutes behind the winner.
Trent Jones was hoping for a big day in the BMX, after his encouraging form yesterday in the quarter-finals. He had a good first run today, but his chances of advancing were ruined when he was involved in a crash in his second race. He appeared to be hit from behind by another rider, and unfortunately paid the price.
The 22-year-old New Zealander finished 13th overall and showed enough promise to indicate he might yet one day make his mark at this level.
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