Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Nicola McDermott has made a flying start to her 2021 campaign with a dominant high jump victory at the Summer Series meet in Canberra.
Competing for the first time in more than five months, McDermott sailed over the bar at 1.96m, before making two unsuccessful attempts at what would have been a new Australian and Oceania record of 2m.
McDermott's big domestic rival, 2014 Commonwealth Games champion and national record holder Eleanor Patterson, skipped the Canberra meet but is expected to return to action within a fortnight.
The pair are pushing each other hard in the race to become the first Australian woman to clear the two-metre barrier.
"When I did the 1.96 and I saw the clearance I thought 'let's not mess around, let's go for the two (metres)' and I was just so excited to be attempting it today," said the 24-year-old McDermott.
"I attempted two metres twice in Europe (last year) but when I stare at that bar there's so much emotion attached to it.
"I thought the attempts weren't quite at the level they could be.
"But the technique is coming along really well and I just need more comps."
With COVID-19 playing havoc with elite sport in 2020, McDermott was one of only a handful of Australian athletes who chose to head to Europe for the northern hemisphere summer season.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was rewarded with a PB of 1.98m in Germany and the promise of even better to come in 2021.
She had a scare in training a few weeks ago when she felt tightness in her Achilles during a bad takeoff at training.
"That was in the back of my mind and I was a bit hesitant and really trying to overcome that today," said McDermott.
"The 1.96 means more to me than I could possibly put into words.
"For the two metres we are just getting a bit more aggressive at the takeoff , more lean, more acceleration.
"I know I've got more in store."
McDermott and Patterson are likely to resume their head-to-head rivalry at the Canberra Track Classic on March 11.
Reigning Commonwealth champion Brandon Starc won the men's high jump on Thursday evening with 2.27m.
In other action at the Summer Series meet, Jack Hale won the men's 100m in 10.21 seconds.
Fast-improving Hana Basic dominated the women's 100m in a winning time of 11.25 but was denied a personal best because the wind reading of 2.1m per second was just above the legal limit.
Australian Associated Press
