Commonwealth Games Pole Vault gold medallist Alana Boyd has become the latest Australian track and field star to join the Sam Maxwell Sports Management stable.
The multiple National Champion, Olympic and World Championships representative secured the gold in Delhi with a leap of 4.40m, a height below her personal best of 4.56m.
Alana’s victory completed a unique piece of Australian athletics history with both her parents also having won Commonwealth Games gold medals. Her father and former coach Ray won the Pole Vault in 1982, and her mother Denise was victorious in the 200m in 1978.
It is the first time that two parents and a sibling have achieved this feat in track and field at major international level.
Originally from Queensland, Alana made the move to Perth in October of 2009 to train under Western Australian Institute of Sport Pole Vault coach Alex Parnov. While it was a difficult decision to move away from family and friends the move has appeared to thus far be a success.
“Alex has proven himself as arguably the best pole vault coach in the world,” Alana said of Parnov’s reputation. “He has taken the likes of Dmitri Markov, Kym Howe, Paul Burgess and now Steve Hooker to achieve amazing feats at world, Olympic and Commonwealth Games level.
“I wanted to be the best that I can be, and to make sure I get the most out of myself I needed to be with Alex and his coaching squad.”
Alana has now returned to full training since the Commonwealth Games. She will compete in the newly revamped Australian Athletics Season early next year where she will set her sights upon qualification for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.