It is where the Olympic pole vaulter qualified for the world youth championships in 2012, and where she first cleared 4.80m to set a national and Oceania record as a 19-year-old at the national championships in 2016.
Nearly 10 years later, McCartney was back in action at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, winning another national title after clearing 4.65m.
Working off a shortened run-up, McCartney was pleased with her form for so early in the season and adding another title to her CV.
"It’s always such a privilege to win a national title," McCartney told the Otago Daily Times.
"It’s never a given — you never know what might happen.
"So I’m really proud to be out here, to be able to compete in Dunedin ... I’ve had some really good results here in the past, so it’s a nice place to be."
The championships were a good test to see where she was at ahead of the upcoming outdoor season.
"The cool thing is that this is further along than we expected for this run-up and this time of the year, so things are going quite well.
"It’s a lovely benchmark. It’s exactly what I was hoping to get out of it, so I’m feeling really good."
McCartney, who won silver at the world indoor championships last year and finished sixth at the Paris Olympics, was joined in Dunedin by fellow Olympian Olivia McTaggart, who was runner-up.
A third Olympian, Imogen Ayris, skipped the event, but the depth in women’s pole vault was evident with six athletes from Auckland competing.
"Any depth in athletics I think is fantastic because it’s such a core sport that we are good at as New Zealanders.
"It’s really great when we can see it growing."
Many of New Zealand’s elite athletes are now preparing for the world indoor championships later this month, but McCartney will skip the indoor event this season.
While she was disappointed to miss the indoor event, McCartney will compete in the Diamond League starting in Doha in May.
"I love world indoors, but it just doesn’t fit into the plan for the year. I have to be patient and respectful of that.
"That won’t be happening, but I’ll be coming out for Doha."
