American standouts both produce top global marks on third attempts to prevail against deep fields; Morris wins in Reno for first time since 2018 with 15-9.75 (4.82m) clearance, with Nilsen earning first career triumph at event by clearing 19-4.25 (5.90m)

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Robert Kleinke and Brynn Kleinke

RENO, Nev. – Third-attempt clearances. World-leading marks. Electric crowd responses.

The performances showcased Friday night by American stars Chris Nilsen and Sandi Morris in the elite competitions at the 31st edition of the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit were only their season openers, but they provided indications that both competitors expect to be in contention once again for global medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as this summer at the Paris Olympics.

INTERVIEWS

Nilsen earned his first career victory at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center with a thrilling third-attempt clearance at 19 feet, 4.25 inches (5.90m) and had two agonizing near misses at 19-8.50 (6.01m) to prevail in a men’s elite competition that had seven athletes clear at least 18-9.25 (5.72m), which was the previous world lead entering the event shared by three individuals.

Morris secured her first win in the women’s elite field at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit since 2018, clearing 15-9.75 (4.82m) with a clutch performance on her third opportunity to surpass the previous world-leading effort of 15-9.25 (4.81m) established Jan. 6 by Finland’s Wilma Murto in Kuortane.

Morris’ performance surpassed her best clearance of 15-9 (4.80m) from an injury-plagued 2023 season that saw the two-time World Indoor gold medalist only compete in outdoor events.

Morris needed only to make 15-2.25 (4.63m) to win the competition, then achieved a second-attempt effort at 15-7 (4.75m), before clearing 15-9.75 indoors for the first time since 2021.

Katie Moon, the reigning Olympic champion and two-time World outdoor gold medalist along with the 2022 elite women’s winner in Reno, tied for second place with Canadian standout Anicka Newell at 14-10.25 (4.53m).

Newell opened her season Jan. 4 by clearing 15 feet (4.57m) at an outdoor competition at the Pole Vault in Paradise in Key West, Fla.

Greek star Katerina Stefanidi, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist and 2017 World champion who won the women’s elite competition at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in 2019, also opened her season by clearing 15 feet at the Pole Vault in Paradise, but only managed a mark of 14-6.50 (4.43m) in Reno.

Stefanidi was joined by American athletes Emily Grove, Hana Moll and Gabriela Leon in clearing 14-6.50. Moll, who took third in the women’s elite section as a high school senior last year representing Northwest Pole Vault Club, was making her collegiate debut for Washington.

Nilsen, who achieved the best season opener in his career with his wife Breanna in attendance for the first time in Reno, joined South Dakota coach Derek Miles – who also mentors the Olympic and World silver medalist as a Nike professional athlete – as winner of the elite men’s section at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit.

Zach Bradford, an All-American at both Texas Tech and Kansas during his collegiate career, placed second in his debut in the men’s elite competition at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit as a Nike professional athlete by clearing 19-1.25 (5.82m) on his second opportunity.

French star Thibaut Collet, winner of last year’s men’s elite section in Reno with a 19-0.50 (5.81m) effort, cleared an indoor-best 19-1.25 on his final attempt to take third overall.

KC Lightfoot, the American record holder, was one of four competitors to clear 18-9.25, along with fellow U.S. athletes Austin Miller, Sam Kendricks and Luke Winder.

Tray Oates and Cole Walsh, both American athletes, each cleared 18-4.50 (5.60m) in the second flight of the men’s elite competition. Oates and Walsh both missed three chances at 18-9.25, as well as a fourth sudden-death tiebreaker attempt at the same height.

Oates also missed an additional tiebreaker attempt at 18-7.25 (5.67m), but Walsh decided not to continue the competition.

Amari Turner, representing Cal, won the women’s open section with a 13-9.25 (4.20m) clearance on her first opportunity. Turner also had three unsuccessful attempts at 14-2.50 (4.33m).