'I wasn't expecting it': McCartney soars to Commonwealth Games gold in pole vault

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Author: Ben Francis ,
Publish Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2026, 8:17am

Eliza McCartney has won gold in the women's pole vault at the Commonwealth Games. Photo / Getty Images

Eliza McCartney has secured a maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal after winning the women’s pole vault final in Glasgow.

McCartney claimed the biggest win of her career, beating out reigning Commonwealth and Olympic champion Nina Kennedy of Australia, while fellow Kiwi Imogen Ayris won bronze.

McCartney’s gold was confirmed after Kennedy failed her third attempt at 4.70m

Kennedy needed two attempts to clear the previous height of 4.65m, while McCartney required just one, which was enough to see her claim gold.

Speaking to Sky Sport after the win, McCartney was in shock with what she had achieved.

“It doesn’t sound right to be honest,” McCartney said.

“I wasn’t expecting it and I haven’t won anything on the international stage before, so it’s a weird feeling. I’m really happy with how I navigated things today and it wasn’t a high height, but sometimes it doesn’t have to be, I guess.”

Eliza McCartney and Imogen Ayris celebrate their Commonwealth Games medals. Photo / Photosport

Ayris secured the bronze after being able to clear 4.70m with her second attempt, while Olivia McTaggart missed out on the podium, finishing fourth.

Ayris did well to eventually claim the bronze after surviving a huge scare when it took three attempts to clear 4.30m

“It’s really special,” Ayris told Sky Sport. “I won a bronze medal back in 2022 almost by accident and now to come back and to really do it properly as a completely different person, completely different athlete is really special.”

Overall, New Zealand won four medals on day eight of the Games, brining their total to 25, with Para-cyclist Devon Briggs also wining gold in the 1km C1-3 time trial.

Briggs crossed the line in 1m 5.536s, which is a Commonwealth Games record and was full of emotion after standing atop the podium.

“I never really thought this day would come,” Briggs told Sky Sport.

“It’s just such an honour and a privilege to be here and to have raced and we still have some of the world’s best here for my class and to get out there and race in front of the world is just amazing.

Devon Briggs with his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Photo . Photosport

“I just wanted to cry, honestly. It’s just so special. My family’s back home watching, they woke up and supporting, everyone who’s helped me on my journey and this is one of the first comps I’ve done where my grandma’s not here watching and supporting me, so I know she’s watching somewhere and I know she’d be proud and I’m doing this for everyone who’s supported me for my whole career.”

Sami Donnelly claimed her second silver of the Games after finishing second in the women’s 10km scratch race.

Donnelly crossed the line in third, but was upgraded after Anna Morris of Wales has been disqualified.

Sami Donnelly (left) celebrates winning silver. Photo / Photosport

While there was plenty of success, it was a tough day for cyclist Ellese Andrews’ was taken out of the medal race in the individual sprint.

The Olympic champion was beaten in consecutive races in a best-of-three quarter final against Welsh rider Emma Finucane. In the women’s Individual pursuit.

Bryony Botha finished fourth after being, beaten by hometown Scottish rider Emily Boothman in the bronze medal race. Botha had initially failed to qualify, but was promoted to the bronze medal race after Australian Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was disqualified due to strapping on her shoulder that “altered her morphology”.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games debutant Max Attwell finished ninth in decathlon.

He did end the event in style by crossing the line first in the 1500m race.

New Zealand sits sixth on the medal table with seven golds, 10 silver and eight bronze.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.