HEREFORDSHIRE pole vaulter Irie Hill made a successful comeback after injury by breaking the women’s aged 40 years world record in Australia.

Hill cleared 3.50m at Aberfeldie in Melbourne, Australia, and was competing for the first time since dislocating a heel at the 2008 Olympic Trials in England.

She took precautionary measures by jumping off a shortened run up of 10 steps and wearing her favourite running shoes.

Hill had not touched a pole between June and December 2008 and, with only a few vaulting sessions before she turned 40 on January 16, the outcome was in doubt until the warm-up.

However last weekend’s warm-up went well and Hill was full of confidence that the old record of 3.45m (held by her training partner Dawn Hartigan) could be beaten.

She entered the competition at 3.05m and cleared easily on her first attempt before repeating at 3.20m.

At 3.35m a change up of pole brought reward on the second attempt, leaving Hill clear to make the world record attempt.

"After injuring my take-off foot at the trials I was ready to give up and walk away from pole vault,” said Hill. “With only six months to go until I turned 40, I felt I ought to have a go at the world age record,” she said.

Hill added: “Luckily the ankle seems fine now, and the rest, my first in 12 years of pole vaulting, has done me the world of good.”