Kurtis Marschall finishes sixth in Olympic vault final

Kurtis Marschall has battled through the pain from the ankle he dislocated earlier this year to finish a creditable sixth in the men’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympics.

Marschall’s best moment of Monday night’s competition came with a first-time clearance at 5.85m after he had passed his final two attempts at 5.80m.

But the 2023 world championships bronze medalist was unable to go any higher, bowing out with two unsuccessful attempts at 5.95m.

It was still a massive improvement from Marschall’s performance in the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, when he failed to register a height.

The Australian badly dislocated his left ankle in a fall at the national championships in April and it has continued to trouble him ever since.

As expected, the gold went to peerless Swedish world record holder Armand Duplantis, who added a second successive Olympic gold to his two world championships, all achieved before the age of 25.

The 24-year-old was flawless throughout, clinching gold with a first-time effort at 6m.

The minor medals went to American Sam Kendricks (5.95m) and Emmanouil Karalis from Greece (5.90m).

Beatrice Chebet mowed down her superstar Kenyan teammate Faith Kipyegon with 60m to go to win the women’s 5000m in 14 minutes 28.56 seconds.

Kipeygon was later disqualified for an incident earlier in the race.

Australian Rose Davies ran on gamely to claim 11th spot in 14:49.67.

Teenager Torrie Lewis’s impressive 200m campaign came to a close when she was run out in the semis in 22.92 – just three hundredths of a second shy of the PB she set in the opening round.

Lewis will now turn his attention to the 4x100m relay, with the heats on Thursday.

In other action on Monday evening, Calab Law was seventh in his men’s 200m heat in 20.75 on his Olympic debut.

Earlier in the day, Australia’s other pole vault star, reigning women’s world champion Nina Kennedy, eased into Wednesday night’s final in equal first place.

Kennedy was only required to vault once each at 4.40m and 4.55m to book her spot in the final.

Australia will have two huge medal chances on Wednesday night, with big Matt Denny powering through the discus qualifying round in second place with a throw of 66.83m.