Alysha Newman bows out of indoor world pole vault final with right ankle injury

The women’s pole vault final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships started and will finish Saturday without medal hopeful Alysha Newman.

The London, Ont., athlete withdrew from the event minutes before it began, unable to overcome pain in her right ankle after hurting herself while cooling down after Thursday’s practice in Glasgow, Scotland.

“If this was the Olympics it’s something you would push through,” the 29-year-old told CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux. “I did everything [possible to compete]. [I] was up [Saturday until 3, 4 a.m. local time] doing treatments. We got all the inflammation out.

“Weirdy, now that the inflammation’s out, I have more pain. I sprinted [in warmup and] felt great … [but] I was getting sharp pain down the runway.”

Newman said she has a Grade 2 ankle sprain and has been told by doctors to not train for three to five weeks and will have an MRI upon returning home.

On Feb. 22, she cleared a winning 4.83 metres at the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France to improve her Canadian record. It was the fourth time in nine competitions this season she has jumped 4.70 or higher.

Heroux noted Newman pulled up on two or three warmup attempts on the runway ahead of Saturday’s event.

“I’ve come a long way from injury and you have to go with your gut. I’m so proud of my indoor season. … This is a minor setback compared to my other injuries and that’s what I need to remember. This is not new territory for me.”

Newman said she was able to walk about 24 hours after suffering the injury and got her foot in her running spikes “with a lot of swelling.”

The swelling had subsided Saturday, allowing the two-time Olympian to attend warmup. She felt good wearing flat shoes but the pain was too much in her spikes.