Friend came before family as Kym Howe set a new Commonwealth record to eclipse Australia's Russian connection and win the women's pole vault gold medal.

Howe set a new Commonwealth benchmark of 4.62m to relegate compatriot Tatiana Grigorieva (4.35m) to a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games final.

Canada's Stephanie McCann (4.25m) won the bronze while Grigorieva's 15-year-old niece, Vicky Parnov, finished sixth with a best clearance of 4.25m before another bumper crowd of 83,000 at the MCG.

Howe, a 25-year-old childcare worker who is coached by Parnov's father, Alex, broke her own Commonwealth record of 4.61m set on Australia Day this year in Canberra.

The West Australian didn't enter the competition until the bar was raised to 4.35m - the previous Games best, set by Grigorieva when she won in Manchester four years ago.

"I was pretty confident coming out here tonight," Howe said.

"I have been Australia's number one pole vaulter all season and it would have been extremely disappointing if I hadn't been able to pull it off."

After securing gold, Howe set the new Commonwealth record and then had one attempt at extending it to 4.70m - but failed, and called it quits for the night.

"We were trying to win, then go for a record," Howe said, adding she was uncertain what heights she could scale in the future.

"I don't want to set any limits ... I don't know what I can jump."

Grigorieva's defence of her Games crown was brave, with the Russian-born vaulter competing with heavy strapping on an injured thigh.

"It was tough, very tough," she said.

"It was probably one of my hardest competitions ... but it was beautiful, I really enjoyed it."

Grigorieva, the 2000 Olympic silver medallist, said she was proud of the feats of her niece.

"Vicky did really well," she said.

"It is massive pressure for her, the biggest competition of her life, she did well to make the final, very well done."

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