Nilsen wins second title in three years with 19-8.25 clearance to rally past reigning champion Kendricks at 19-6.25 (5.95m) and fellow veteran Miller at 19-4.25 (5.90m); Davis-Woodhall soars to 23-6.75 (7.18m) long jump, Cunningham earns eighth straight women’s high jump crown, McEwen repeats in men’s high jump, as does Jackson in women’s shot put

By David Woods for DyeStat

Photos by Chuck Aragon and Crash Kamon

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – There aren’t many pole vaulters capable of beating Mondo Duplantis.

One is Chris Nilsen. He has medaled in four global championships since August 2021, twice taking silvers behind the Swede.

Yet here was Nilsen, having cleared a creditable height of 19 feet, 2.25 inches (5.85m), and he was out. Not on Team USA. Not yet going to Glasgow, Scotland, for the World Indoor Championships.

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“It’s getting ridiculous, how high the level is getting on the men’s side, both in the U.S. and the world,” Nilsen said.

So he went higher.

Through 5.85m Friday night, he was third – behind Sam Kendricks and Austin Miller – at the USATF Indoor Championships at Albuquerque Convention Center. Nilsen missed once at 19-4.25 (5.90m), so he passed until 19-6.25 (5.95m). Made that on first attempt, overtaking Miller, and he was off to Glasgow.

Nilsen then made 19-8.25 (6.00m) on his first, securing victory and breaking the indoor nationals record of 19-6.5 (5.96m) held by Lawrence Johnson since 2001.

At the end, Nilsen, Kendricks, Miller and Tray Oates were all jumping at 6 meters. Kendricks was second at 19-6.25 (5.95m), Miller third at 5.90m, Oates fourth at 19-0.75 (5.80m). KC Lightfoot, whose outdoor American record is 19-11 (6.07m), finished eighth at 18-6.50 (5.65m).

“I got lucky and took home the win today,” Nilsen said.

Nilsen said Kendricks had the best attempts at 6 meters. Kendricks said Lightfoot was the one he feared most. 

The state of the event is such that vaulters out of small colleges like High Point (Miller) and Samford (Oates) have become among the best in the world.

“I’m a factor now,” said Miller, 29. “I’m just as capable of making a team as anyone else.”

Kendricks, a five-time global medalist and four-time U.S. indoor champion, is a factor at age 31. He called this one of his favorite meets ever because he had a clean sheet through 5.95m . . .  and he was still beaten. He won with a vault of 18-10.75 (5.76m) in 2015.

“No more,” he said.

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, he added:

“We need five spots for Team USA.”

Men’s pole vault and women’s long jump nearly made Albuquerque forget an October boxing card at the convention center was canceled. Instead, the two jumps showcased one blow after another, haymaker followed by knockout.

First punch in the sand was delivered by Jasmine Moore, who seized the lead in the first round with a distance of 22-4.25 (6.81m). The next jumper in the order, Tara Davis-Woodhall, matched it to the centimeter.

In the fifth round, Moore bounded out to a world-leading 22-9 (6.93m). Davis-Woodhall, again next, responded with a PB 23-6.75 (7.18m). That advanced her to No. 6 on the all-time world list and No. 2 American behind Brittney Reese, 23-8.75 (7.23m) from 2012.

“I didn’t know when it was going to happen. But I knew it was going to happen at some point,” said Davis-Woodhall, silver medalist at last August’s World Championships.

“I’m just so happy I did it on the big stage. And I think I have more in the tank.”

In other field events:

>> Newlywed Chase (Ealey) Jackson repeated in the women’s shot put with another world-leading distance, 65-8.25 (20.02m). It was the best ever by an American at nationals. The meet record is 66-4.50 (20.23m) by Ilona Briesnick of East Germany in 1987.

>> Vashti Cunningham won an eighth straight women’s high jump, going without a miss through 6-3.50 (1.92m). Second was JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge WA, climbing to No. 4 on the all-time high school list at 6-2.25 (1.89m). Gero-Holt, 17, said she plans to graduate in June and begin at Illinois next fall.

>> Shelby McEwen repeated as men’s high jump champion at 7-5.75 (2.28m). He jumped a world-leading 7-7.75 (2.33m) on Feb. 10 at Hustopece, Czech Republic.

>> At age 34, Chris Carter won a third U.S. indoor title in the triple jump at 54-1.25 (16.29m), and first since 2016.

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