Eleanor Patterson sets Australian high jump record

Last week at the Capital Classic in Wellington- Eleanor Patterson broke the 31-year-old Australian women's high jump record with a clearance of 1.99 metres.

The previous national record of 1.98m was set by Vanessa Ward in 1989 and equalled five years later by Alison Inverarity.

"I felt really ready, ready to go, and I felt pretty fresh," said Patterson, who also had three unsuccessful attempts at 2.01m.

"Over the last three competitions of the season I've had continuous attempts at PBs (personal bests) so I knew it was within my range."

She won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as an 18-year-old and finished eighth at the world championships in Beijing 12 months later.

Patterson, who grew up in the town of Leongatha in Victoria's South Gippsland region, was an outside medal prospect at the 2016 Rio Olympics but did not progress from the qualifying rounds.

After some time out from the sport, Patterson linked up with renowned high jump coach Alex Stewart, who also guides the fortunes of men's Commonwealth Games champion Brandon Starc.

Australia could have at least two competitors in the women's high jump at the Tokyo Olympics, with Patterson's domestic rival Nicola McDermott having also qualified.

McDermott finished second to Patterson in Wellington with a clearance of 1.96m.

"It's phenomenal that Nicola is there with me each and every jump and we're able to push each other," Patterson said.

"That we're able to be such a force for each other to go to the new heights and feel what is to come in the world and the year ahead, an Olympic year, what the competitions will be like."