VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, March 14–15 — While a record seven 15-footers entered the vault, interest was rightly on the top two – Washington twins Amanda and Hana Moll, whose incredible winter has them leading the all-time list at 16-1¼ (4.91) and 15-9¼ (4.81).
As the bar reached 15-1 (4.60), only four remained and only the Molls cleared, defending champ Hana in the lead by virtue of an uncharacteristic miss by Amanda at the opening height of 13-11¼ (4.25). They both passed 15-3 (4.65) so next up was the meet-record height of 15-5 (4.70). Amanda gained the lead with a first-attempt clearance while Hana needed three tries to get over.
The two then bypassed 15-7 (4.75) — a height only they and Demi Payne (in ’15) have ever cleared/surpassed among collegians — for 15-9 (4.80). As neither was successful this time, Amanda won the title to run her seasonal record to 4–1 over Hana.
“I knew I could do great things but I had no idea what that looked like,” said Amanda. “This season has pushed me to see beyond my limitations, and not put limits on myself as a vaulter. That will carry well into the bigger competitions against these pro women. I know that I’m right up there with them now.”
POLE VAULT RESULTS
(March 14)
1. **Amanda Moll (Wa) 15-5 (4.70) (x, =9 C)
(13-11¼ [2], 14-5¼, 14-9, 15-1, 15-5, 15-9 [xxx]) (4.25 [2], 4.40, 4.50, 4.60, 4.70, 4.80 [xxx]);
2. **Hana Moll (Wa) 15-5 (4.70) (x, =9 C)
(13-11¼, 14-5¼, 14-9, 15-1, 15-5 [3], 15-9 [xxx]) (4.25, 4.40, 4.50, 4.60, 4.70 [3], 4.80 [xxx]);
3. Olivia Lueking (Ok) 14-11 (4.55) (13-11¼, 14-5¼, 14-9, 14-11, 15-1 [xxx]) (4.25, 4.40, 4.50, 4.55, 4.60 [xxx]);
4. **Mason Meinershagen (Ks) 14-9 (4.50) (13-11¼, 14-5¼ [2], 14-9 [2], 14-11 [xxp], 15-1 [x]) (4.25, 4.40 [2], 4.50 [2], 4.55 [xxp], 4.60 [x]);
5. Julia Fixsen (VaT) 14-5¼ (4.40); 6. Sarah Schmitt (Tn) 14-5¼ (4.40); 7. Sydney Horn (HPt) 14-5¼ (4.40); 7. Tori Thomas (Il) 14-5¼ (4.40); 7. *Tenly Kuhn (Bay) 14-5¼ (4.40); 10. Chloe Timberg (Rut) 14-5¼ (4.40); 11. Abby Knouff (Cinc) 13-11¼ (4.25); 11. Erica Ellis (Ks) 13-11¼ (4.25); 11. **Tatum Moku (WaSt) 13-11¼ (4.25); 14. **Molly Haywood (Bay) 13-11¼ (4.25);… nh—Maren Garnett (BYU), Natalie Lark (Louis).
The pentathlon looked very intriguing with three in the all-time top-10 — Oklahoma’s Pippi Lotta Enok (No. 5 at 4593), two-time defending champ Jadin O’Brien of Notre Dame (No. =7 at 4580) and Texas A&M frosh Sofia Iakushina (No. 10 at 4556).
After all three PRed in the hurdles (O’Brien fastest overall at 8.16), projections had them within a 25-point window. Iakushina opened things up in the high jump, raising her PR twice to be highest at 6-½ (1.84) to take the lead, 140 points over Lotta Enok and 149 over O’Brien.
O’Brien predictably gained back ground in the shot (47-7/14.50), taking the overall lead at 2762, 37 points over Iakushina as Lotta Enok was in 4th, another 108 down from Iakushina. O’Brien strengthened her outlook after the long jump with a near-PR 20-3¾ (6.19), increasing her lead to 129 as projections had her close to her 4580 PR while Iakushina and Lotta Enok looked significantly lower, just over 4400.
O’Brien sealed a third-straight title with a 2:12.65 in the 800 — her fourth event better than in her previous PR score — for a 4596-point total that moved her to No. 5 all-time collegiately. She joined Arizona State’s Jackie Johnson (2006–08), Oregon’s Brianne Theisen (2010–12) and Georgia’s Kendell Williams (2014–17) to win the event at least three times (Williams having four).
“To do it twice is one thing,” said O’Brien. “But to do it three times is kind of unreal. It was an amazing group effort at Notre Dame to make this happen a third time, and I’m so grateful.”
PENTATHLON RESULTS
(March 14)
1. Jadin O’Brien (NDm) 4596 (5, x C) PR
(8.16, 5-6½/1.69, 47-7/14.50, 20-3¾/6.19, 2:12.65);
2. ***Sofia Iakushina’ (TxAM-Rus) 4412
(8.33, 6-½/1.84, 38-4¼/11.69, 19-¾/5.81, 2:14.87);
3. Pippi Lotta Enok’ (Ok-Est) 4375
(8.45, 5-8¾/1.75, 39-11½/12.18, 20-3½/6.18, 2:17.84);
4. ***Pauline Bikembo’ (Ia-Fra) 4331 PR
(8.64, 5-8¾/1.75, 38-9½/11.82, 20-5¼/6.23, 2:17.46);
5. Angel Richmore’ (Ok-Swe) 4310
(8.73, 5-8¾/1.75, 46-3¼/14.10, 19-8¾/6.01, 2:23.74);
6. *Izzy Goudros’ (Harv-Can) 4305
(8.57, 5-6½/1.69, 38-2¾/11.65, 20-3½/6.18, 2:13.25);
7. Jenelle Rogers (BallSt) 4265; 8. Jalen Elrod (Pur) 4233 =PR; 9. *Maddie Pitts (PennSt) 4229 PR; 10. *Jenna Fee Feyerabend’ (SDi-Ger) 4202; 11. ***Lucie Kienast (Ill) 4201; 12. *Meredith Engle (Lib) 4122; 13. *Ella Rush’ (Ga-GB) 4051; 14. ***Mia Lien’ (UTSA-Nor) 4031; 15. Alaina Brady (NDm) 3956; 16. Shelby Schweyen (MtSt) 3789.
For a second straight championships the high jump ended in a tie, with Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko repeating in the top group from last summer’s outdoor meet. Instead of sharing the crown with Illinois’ Rose Yeboah (as last June) it was Texas Tech’s Temitope Adeshina joining her at the top of the podium this time.
An early departure among the four who entered at 6-4¼ or higher was Nebraska’s Jenna Rogers, who managed just 5-10¾ (1.80). Three remained after 6-3¼ (1.91) with co-indoor CR holder Rachel Glenn of Arkansas leading with a clean record over Adeshina and Kulichenko.
The deciding height came next at 6-4¼ (1.94), where Kulichenko and Adeshina got over on second attempts (a seasonal best for the latter) and Glenn — the year’s leading jumper at 6-6 (1.98) — missed all three. Both Kulichenko and Adeshina missed thrice at 6-5½ (1.97) and agreed to bypass a jumpoff and share the title.
HIGH JUMP RESULTS
(March 15)
=1. Elena Kulichenko’ (Ga-Cyp) 6-4¼ (1.94)
(5-10¾, 6-¾, 6-2 [2], 6-3¼ [2], 6-4¼ [2], 6-5½ [xxx]) (1.80, 1.85, 1.88 [2], 1.91 [2], 1.94 [2], 1.97 [xxx]);
=1. **Temitope Adeshina’ (TxT-Ngr) 6-4¼ (1.94)
(5-8¾, 5-10¾, 6-¾ [2], 6-2 [2], 6-3¼, 6-4¼ [2], 6-5½ [xxx]) (1.75, 1.80, 1.85 [2], 1.88 [2], 1.91, 1.94 [2], 1.97 [xxx]);
3. *Rachel Glenn (Ar) 6-3¼ (1.91)
(5-8¾, 5-10¾, 6-¾, 6-2, 6-3¼, 6-4¼ [xxx]) (1.75, 1.80, 1.85, 1.88, 1.91, 1.94 [xxx]);
4. *Emma Gates (Az) 6-2 (1.88)
(5-8¾, 5-10¾, 6-¾ [2], 6-2 [3], 6-3¼ [xxx]) (1.75, 1.80, 1.85 [2], 1.88 [3], 1.91 [xxx]);
5. *Cheyla Scott (SC) 6-¾ (1.85); 6. tie, *Rose Yeboah’ (Il-Gha) & Kristi Perez-Snyman’ (Mo-SA) 6-¾; 8. tie, *Sharie Enoe’ (KsSt-Jam) & *Evelyn Lavielle (TxT) 6-¾; 10. tie, **Paris Mikinski (Az) & Jenna Rogers (Nb) 5-10¾ (1.80); 12. tie, Madison Schmidt (NDm) & Sydney Billington (Ar) 5-10¾; 14. Bara Sajdoková’ (Il-CzR) 5-10¾; 15. tie, Claudina Diaz’ (Mo-Mex) & *Alyssa Jones (Stan) 5-8¾ (1.75).
There was no tie in the triple jump, but the tiebreaker went to a best third effort to separate Agur Dwol of Oklahoma and Tamiah Washington of Texas Tech, who had matching best (45-½/13.72) and second-best (44-6/13.56) jumps, with Washington hitting her PR in round 6 after a PR in round 5.
The difference maker was nearly as close as could be — one centimeter, as Dwol’s 44-2¾ (13.48) edged Washington’s 44-2½ (13.47).
TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
(March 15)
1. *Agur Dwol (Ok) 45-¼ (13.72)
(45-¼, f, 44-2¾, 44-6, f, 44-1¼) (13.72, f, 13.48, 13.56, f, 13.44);
2. **Tamiah Washington (TxT) 45-¼ (13.72) PR
(43-10, 44-2½, f, 39-7¼, 44-6, 45-¼) (13.36, 13.47, f, 12.07, 13.56, 13.72);
3. Temitope Ojora’ (USC-GB) 44-11½ (13.70)
(44-6, 43-7, 42-8, f, 44-11½, 44-5½) (13.56, 13.28, 13.00, f, 13.70, 13.55);
4. *Winny Bii’ (TxAM-Ken) 44-8¾ (13.63)
(44-4, 44-4¾, 44-8¾, 43-1¾, 43-9¾, 43-8½) (13.51, 13.53, 13.63, 13.15, 13.35, 13.32);
5. *Shantae Foreman’ (Clem-Jam) 44-8¼ (13.62)
(44-5½, 43-4½, 43-10¾, 44-8¼, 42-9, 42-8¾) (13.55, 13.22, 13.38, 13.62, 13.03, 13.02);
6. Euphenie Andre (Mo) 44-5½ (13.55) PR
(43-5¼, f, 44-5½, f, 43-8½, f) (13.24, f, 13.55, f, 13.32, f);
7. Jasmine Akins (Ok) 44-¾ (13.43); 8. Simone Johnson (SJSt) 43-11¾ (13.40); 9. Emilia Sjöstrand’ (SJSt-Swe) 43-8 (13.31); 10. ***Asia Phillips’ (Fl-Can) 43-¼ (13.11); 11. **Daniela Wamokpego’ (Ia-Fra) 42-9 (13.03); 12. Ryann Porter (Or) 42-8 (13.00); 13. *Rhianna Phipps’ (Nb-Jam) 42-7 (12.98); 14. *Machaeda Linton’ (LSU-Jam) 42-5¼ (12.93); 15. *Suzan Ogunleye (TxT) 42-3¼ (12.88); 16. Nia Robinson’ (Ar-Jam) 41-11¼ (12.78).
Alexis Brown of Baylor could have used any of her three best leaps — her three best ever indoors — to win the long jump. Her absolute PR of 22-7¾ (6.90) made her equal-No. 7 all-time indoors and held off three other 22-footers in Illinois’ Tacoria Humphrey (22-1¾/6.75), Stanford’s Alyssa Jones and Florida’s Anthaya Charlton (both 22-¼/6.71).
LONG JUMP RESULTS
(March 14)
1. Alexis Brown (Bay) 22-7¾ (6.90) PR (=7, =8 C)
(22-5¼, 21-7½, 22-4¼, 22-7¾, f, 22-¼) (6.84, 6.59, 6.81, 6.90, f, 6.71);
2. Tacoria Humphrey (Il) 22-1¾ (6.75)
(22-1¾, f, f, 20-11¾, f, f) (6.75, f, f, 6.39, f, f);
3. *Alyssa Jones (Stan) 22-¼ (6.71)
(21-11½, 22-¼, 20-9, 21-8¼, f, 21-6¾) (6.69, 6.71, 6.32, 6.61, f, 6.57);
4. *Anthaya Charlton’ (Fl-Bah) 22-¼ (6.71)
(21-8¾, 21-4¼, 20-5¾, 20-6½, 22-¼, 20-10) (6.62, 6.51, 6.24, 6.26, 6.71, 6.35);
5. **Sophia Beckmon (Il) 21-10¾ (6.67)
(f, 21-10¾, 20-7, f, f, f) (f, 6.67, 6.27, f, f, f);
6. Jasmine Akins (Ok) 21-7¼ (6.58)
(f, 21-5¼, 21-6¾, f, 21-7¼, 21-6) (f, 6.53, 6.57, f, 6.58, 6.55);
7. Nia Robinson’ (Ar-Jam) 21-2 (6.45); 8. ***Prestina Ochonogor’ (Tarl-Ngr) 21-1¼ (6.43); 9. **Aaliyah Foster’ (Tx-Jam) 20-10¾ (6.37); 10. **Ida Breigan’ (UTSA-Nor) 20-10 (6.35); 11. Funminiyi Olajide’ (Ar-GB) 20-9 (6.32); 12. Emilia Sjöstrand’ (SJSt-Swe) 20-6¼ (6.25); 13. Lishanna Ilves’ (Nb-Est) 20-2¼ (6.15); 14. *Machaeda Linton’ (LSU-Jam) 19-11 (6.07); 15. Morgan Smalls (Il) 19-10¼ (6.05);… dnc—Darja Sopova’ (Il-Lat).
Only Axelina Johansson of Nebraska exceeded 19m in the shot, doing so three times with a best of 63-3¼ (19.28) — just shy of her 63-4¼/19.31 indoor PR that has her No. 4 all-time indoors — to win over outdoor CR holder Jaida Ross of Oregon (indoor PR 62-3¼/18.98), list leader KeAyla Dove of Houston (62-½/18.91) and defending champ Mya Lesnar of Colorado State (59-8½/18.20).
WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
(March 15)
1. *Axelina Johansson’ (Nb-Swe) 63-3¼ (19.28) (x, 6 C)
(60-10¾, 62-6¾, 61-8¼, 61-5, 62-6½, 63-3¼) (18.56, 19.07, 18.80, 18.72, 19.06, 19.28);
2. Jaida Ross (Or) 62-3¼ (18.98) PR (10, x C)
(61-¾, 60-9¼, 59-7¾, 60-1, 58-10¼, 62-3¼) (18.61, 18.52, 18.18, 18.31, 17.94, 18.98);
3. KeAyla Dove (Hous) 62-½ (18.91)
(62-½, 61-1½, 61-9½, f, 58-10, f) (18.91, 18.63, 18.83, f, 17.93, f);
4. Mya Lesnar (CoSt) 59-8½ (18.20)
(f, f, 59-2¾, f, 59-8½, f) (f, f, 18.05, f, 18.20, f);
5. **Nina Ndubuisi’ (Tx-Ger) 59-6¼ (18.14)
(56-4¾, 57-3¾, 56-1¾, 59-6¼, 58-¼, 58-3¾) (17.19, 17.47, 17.11, 18.14, 17.68, 17.77);
6. Jayden Ulrich (Louis) 59-3½ (18.07)
(55-1½, 57-10½, f, 57-6¼, 59-3½, 58-5¾) (16.80, 17.64, f, 17.53, 18.07, 17.82);
7. Abria Smith (Il) 59-¼ (17.99) PR; 8. Kalynn Meyer (Nb) 58-¼ (17.68) PR; 9. **Akaoma Odeluga (Ms) 56-7½ (17.26); 10. *Mine De Klerk’ (Nb-SA) 56-3¼ (17.15); 11. *Treneese Hamilton’ (Al-Dom) 55-9¾ (17.01); 12. **Elizabeth Tapper (Mi) 55-5½ (16.90); 13. *Melanie Duron’ (TxSt-Mex) 54-11¼ (16.74); 14. MyeJoi Williams (Al) 54-10 (16.71); 15. Paige Low (Ok) 54-9½ (16.70); 16. Gabby Morris (CoSt) 54-4½ (16.57).
Taylor Kesner of Wisconsin was a surprise winner in the weight. She was in 6th with a PR 74-1¾ (22.60) until round 6, when she hurled 77-1¼ (23.50). VCU’s Guðrún Hallgrímsdóttir responded with a PR 76-1 (23.19) that left her a foot short of the title.
WOMEN’S WEIGHT RESULTS
(March 14)
1. *Taylor Kesner (Wi) 77-1¼ (23.50) PR
(68-7, 73-8, f, f, 74-1¾, 77-1¼) (20.90, 22.45, f, f, 22.60, 23.50);
2. Guðrún Hallgrímsdóttir’ (VaC-Ice) 76-1 (23.19) PR(71-10, 74-11, 73-1¼, 71-11¾, 71-1¼, 76-1) (21.89, 22.83, 22.28, 21.94, 21.67, 23.19);
3. *Phethisang Makhethe’ (Il-SA) 75-8¾ (23.08)
(74-2½, 74-8¼, f, f, 75-8¾, 75-1¼) (22.62, 22.76, f, f, 23.08, 22.89);
4. **Giavonna Meeks (Cal) 75-5½ (23.00)
(73-1¼, 73-¾, 75-5½, 70-4½, 71-8¼, 70-3½) (22.28, 22.27, 23.00, 21.45, 21.85, 21.42);
5. Shelby Frank (TxT) 75-2 (22.91)
(73-4½, 73-8¾, f, f, 75-2, 74-¾) (22.36, 22.47, f, f, 22.91, 22.57);
6. Chloe Lindeman (Wi) 74-7¼ (22.74) (f, 72-¼, 70-7¼, 74-7¼, 72-1¾, 72-4½) (f, 21.95, 21.52, 22.74, 21.99, 22.06); 7. **Jordan Koskondy (Il) 73-9 (22.48) PR; 8. Sara Killinen’ (VaT-Fin) 73-2½ (22.31); 9. **Hadley Streit (Mn) 72-3½ (22.03); 10. Kenna Curry (ND) 71-5½ (21.78); 11. **Anthonett Nabwe’ (Mn-Lbr) 70-10 (21.59); 12. Michelle Ogbemudia (ArSt) 70-1½ (21.37); 13. Michaelle Valentin’ (FlInt-Hai) 69-9½ (21.27); 14. Maura Huwalt (Aub) 69-3½ (21.12); 15. **Kate Powers (Ky) 69-1½ (21.07); 16. *Elle Adrian (MiSt) 69-0 (21.03). ◻︎
