London 2017: Aussies Roberts and Marschall set for medal round

The Australian duo of Kelsey-Lee Roberts (ACT) and Kurtis Marschall (SA) have advanced to Tuesday’s finals in the women’s javelin and men’s pole vault respectively.

Roberts, who initially recorded a 61.12-metre throw, was one of only three athletes to advance automatically from her pool, after hitting 63.70m — 20cm beyond the 63.50m mark needed to ensure progression.

“I’m doing a little happy dance, I’m really happy to get the auto-qualifier tonight,” Roberts told Athletics Australia after her qualification. “It’s puts everything that I’ve done all season into practice and I don’t have to play the waiting game, I’m just straight into the final.

“I’ve been really happy with this season,” the 25-year-old South African-born, Australian native continued. “It took a little bit to get going at the start, I was just sort of waiting because I knew that the form was there, but to come to Europe, throw well at my first couple of Diamond Leagues, it has helped set me up for a good campaign here.

“My goal all season has been to throw a PB at the world championships. I didn’t do that tonight, so that’s what I want on Tuesday night.”

Kathryn Mitchell (VIC) competed in the Qualifying Group ‘B’ and hit a best mark of 57.42m, but failed to qualify for the final.

Marschall entered the competition at the opening height of 5.30m and cleared the bar with ease on his first attempt, before having Team Australia on the edge of their seat after two misses at 5.45m. He delivered a clutch third attempt jump to progress.

His next jump was the best of his series, sailing over 5.60m without any concerns before two commendable efforts at 5.70m, only to knock the bar on his fall to the mat.

Competing at his second major international championships after debuting at Rio 2016 last year, Marschall had a nation on the edge of their seats after opening with 5.30m and then two-straight misses at 5.45.

However, the 20-year-old South Australian delivered on the third attempt with a 5.60m vault.

“I’m so pumped, I’m very excited and now looking forward to the final,” he said after making the medal round.

“It was a nervous wait, I jumped 5.60m pretty cleanly and was looking forward to jumping 5.70m to guarantee that spot in the final but it wasn’t to be. It all came down to that wait, that sucked, but I scrapped in and can’t be happier.

“Now I’ve just got to kick the feet up, eat lots of food, put some tights on, get the feet up and just do as much as I can to be ready. I’ve never been in a major championship final before and the buzz of being there will get me back up producing what I have across the season."

Marschall, who told the Herald Sun he patterns his career more off Paul Burgess than recently retired Australian gold medallist Steve Hooker, is fresh off a fourth at Lausanne Diamond League and sixth in the Monaco Diamond League, already has jumped higher many of the world’s best this year.

“I’ve had pretty good attempts at 5.70m these past few weeks. I’m showing I have big jumps in there, I’ve made the final, ticked the box, now it’s about replicating the best I can and letting the results speak for themselves.”

Marschall will be joined in the men’s pole vault final by, among others, London 2012 Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), the Beijing 2015 gold medallist Shawn Barber (CAN) and 17-year-old prodigy Armand Duplantis (SWE).