HOLLY Bleasdale enhanced her status as a genuine medal prospect at next month’s World Indoor Championships after winning the pole vault at the Aviva Grand Prix.

The Blackburn Harrier took top spot after clearing 4.70m to secure victory, beating former world champion Anna Rogowska from Poland in the star-studded event in Birmingham.

And the 20-year-old from Chorley, who was sharing centre stage with the likes of Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah, hinted there is more to come as she gets use to using a bigger pole and a longer run up.

The UK record holder, who cleared 4.87m in France last month, needed all three attempts to clear her opening distance of 4.52m – but she composed herself to clear what would be a winning height 4.70m at the first attempt.

“I’m really happy with the performance,” said Bleasale. “To come out here in front of this capacity crowd where there’s a bit of pressure and jump 4.70m again is obviously what I keep aiming for.

“I still feel like there’s something lacking in my jumping. I’ve not had much practice off 16 (steps).

“My run up was really good again but I can’t seem to translate that speed into my vault to get the big heights, but to jump 4.70m, I’m really happy.

“I didn’t have a terribly good warm up and I was a bit rusty going in, but as soon as I had my last attempt at the first height the crowd picked me up and I cleared the bar.”

Bleasdale goes to the World Championships in Istanbul as one of Great Britain’s form athletes.

She successfully defended her title at the UK Indoor Championships last month while her incredible effort in Nice put her second in the all-time indoor rankings.