HEREFORD-based pole-vaulter Irie Hill started her season with a second place in the first of a series of winter meetings being held in Melbourne, Australia.

Hill took second place behind Australia's current number one Rosanna Ditton.

Ditton, who won the Australian title and several of the Australian Grand Prix this year has been selected for the World Student Games in Korea later this year.

Hill and Ditton entered the competition at 3.60m and both went clear at this height on the first attempt.

The bar was then raised to 3.75m, which again Ditton cleared at the first try, while Hill failed narrowly on what was plainly too soft a pole.

Hill then moved up to her next pole for the next jump, but again the pole was just soft, so she went up a third pole for the final jump at 3.75.

Again the pole was slightly soft, and she was unable to clear.

Ditton went on to set a first time clearance at 3.90m, and then had two attempts to get over 4.05m, before bowing out of the competition at 4.20m.

Hill said after the competition: "The conditions were a bit challenging, with a strong cross wind, but it was the same for all the competitors.

"For me it was good to get back on a 14 foot pole in competition for the first time since April, and with a few more competitions under my belt I am looking forward to a strong European season."

Hill will next compete on Saturday, June 14 at Melbourne University before departing for Europe.