Kendricks rallies to knock off Wooten with clutch 19-4.75 (5.91m) effort, his best clearance since 2021, capturing fourth indoor championship and first since 2017 in Albuquerque

By David Woods for DyeStat

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – One of the enduring images of Sam Kendricks during his career will be him stopping during the pole vault at the 2016 Rio Olympics and standing for the national anthem. Now, there is another image to archive.

After sailing over 19 feet, 4.75 inches (5.91m) on his lone attempt at that bar Saturday, he went all Noah Lyles. (To be fair, Kendricks did not tear off his singlet.)

The 30-year-old pole vaulter punched his fist in the air, shouted for joy and ran down the backstretch of the Albuquerque Convention Center oval – away from the bar, not toward it. It was his highest clearance since September 2021.

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He said he wanted to remind the sport’s fans – and maybe himself – of the passion he retains for track and field.

“It bursts out at the seams sometimes,” Kendricks said. “It’s been pent up for me for quite some time.”

Kendricks allowed he had no business winning a 10th national title – four indoors, six outdoors – at the USATF Indoor Championships. He set a facility record by eclipsing the 2012 mark of 19-2.75 (5.86m) achieved by four-time U.S. indoor champion Brad Walker.

Jacob Wooten had a clean sheet through a PB of 19-2.75/5.86m, so Kendricks passed his final attempt at that bar to take one shot at the next. With what Kendricks called a “Hail Mary,” he made it.

“Wooten had me from the get-go. No misses all the way to (5.86m), that is so hard to beat,” Kendricks said. “He might have learned it from me.”

Wooten seemingly expected it from Kendricks.

“When the cards are down, he always performs like he did today and he got me at that 5.91m (bar). He saw me miss and he knew,” Wooten said, “Even if there is only a crack in the door, he’s going to make it in that door. He’s going to kick it open.”

Kendricks, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and World champion in 2017 and 2019, has had some bumps since then. He tested positive for COVID-19 at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and could not compete. After that, he said would not follow “any protocols anymore,” although he did not specify refusal to be vaccinated, as required for the 2022 World Championships.

Rather than take his bye into Worlds, he had surgery in May 2022 and took some time off.

Even with American indoor record-holder Chris Nilsen not competing after vaulting Wednesday with Wooten in France, the USATF final was of high quality.

KC Lightfoot (19-2.75/5.86m) was third and Matt Ludwig (19-0.75/5.81m) fourth.

Luke Winder and Carson Waters were fifth and sixth, both with PBs of 18-8.75/5.71m.

“The  Americans are deep. We have a bunch of guys who can jump really high,” Lightfoot said. “That’s what makes the competition really fun.”

Saturday wasn’t much fun for Lightfoot, who had treatment before every attempt on a hamstring he recently injured in Poland.

“I know how to jump pretty high,” Lightfoot said. “It’s hard to jump when you can’t run.”

Lightfoot, 23, who set a collegiate indoor record of 19-8.25/6.00m in 2021 while at Baylor, was fourth in Tokyo but missed last year’s Worlds. Still, he’s the “golden child” of U.S. vaulters, according to Kendricks.

“He’s a bit of a diva and knows it,” Kendricks said. “He’s every bit of awesome and positivity you could wrap up about being an athlete. That’s him, not me. I’m just a busted-up old guy who’s been on the road too many times and filled up too many passports.”

Don’t discount the former Army Reserve lieutenant. When he leaves his newborn son, he said, he aims to make the trip worth it. His previous six meets this year were all in four European countries.

He asserted his goal these days is not to be “the best,” but to be his best. Kendricks said he has cleared 19-0.50/5.80m in 105 meets in his career. One hundred five.

“I’m in my prime. I really am,” he said. “Just waiting for the chance to show my full potential. I’ve always been a late-bloomer, and I’ve got all the experience to really display what I can do.”

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.