Bressanone/Brixen - Amy Pejkovic could barely contain herself during the medal ceremony for the girls’ High Jump on Saturday and as she waited impatiently for the announcement of her joint silver medal, she rocked from one foot to the other.

Finally the glittering medal was hung around her neck and the 16-year-old Australian’s smile was bright enough to brighten the overcast skies over the arena.

Pejkovic had tied Russian Mariya Kuchina for the silver, both clearing 1.85m, a three centimetre improvement for her and her hard work finally paid off.

“I was so excited,” she said adding “this was a bit of a surprise for me.”

She admitted that while she was positive and hoping for the best, “there was some doubt that I wouldn’t medal but once I did, it was such a relief that all that hard work paid off.”

She said the competition was good, “Every one jumping the same height and it just pushed you to go higher and higher…yeah it was good.”

As to how long she wants to continue jumping, Amy said she wants “to go as long as I can.”

When she is not high jumping, Amy says she likes to “watch some footie, playing touch football and netball.”

Paul Reid for the IAAF