MAKING UP FOR the disappointment of not making the Olympic team, Sandi Morris cruised to her fifth outdoor national title and ninth career overall.
The 33-year-old Arkansas grad clinched the win over defending world co-champion Katie Moon with a second-attempt make at 15-10 (4.92). She was the only vaulter over the height.
The opening height of 14-4½ (4.38) had eliminated 7 from the 16-woman field.
At the next setting, 14-10¼ (4.53), Morris and Moon set the tone for the competition by making on their second attempts, while twins Amanda and Hana Moll of Washington, Rutgers alum Chloe Timberg and Gabriela Leon all needed third tries to advance to the next height of 15-2¼ (4.63).
While Moon passed at that height, Morris, Hana Moll, Olympian Brynn King (who had passed at the previous bar) and Timberg all cleared on their first attempt. Leon missed on her first try, then opted to pass for two shots at the next setting.
Meanwhile, Amanda Moll, who had needed a third-attempt clearance at the previous height, came through again at the third time of asking to stay alive.
Morris, Moon and the Molls passed at the next bar, 15-4¼ (4.68), leaving Timberg, King and Leon to take cracks at it.
After the pass, Leon missed on her two remaining attempts, while King and Timberg missed on their three tries.
With the bar now at 15-6¼ (4.73), Morris and Moon cleared on first goes. The twins were still not safe since King and Timberg were ahead on fewer misses, so the two Huskies had to clear the bar in order to grab the two remaining spots in Tokyo.
Amanda cleared on her second try, while Hana used a third-attempt make to clinch a spot on her second Worlds team.
Now that the team berths were sorted, the bar went up to 15-10 (4.83) Morris was the only vaulter to clear, doing so on her second attempt. After her second miss, Moon was in pain from a blow to her back from her pole as she dropped into the pit. She failed to clear in her final try at the winning height, and the Molls missed on all three of their attempts.
Now alone at the top, Morris took three unsuccessful shots at a would-be WL bar, 16-1¾ (4.92), a centimeter above Amanda Moll’s Big 10 Indoor winner.
“I absolutely believe I can be world champion this year and nothing is standing in my way but myself,” Morris said. “I’m going to make sure that I’m not standing in my way and I know that I’m going to give this 100% my all and I’m not going to leave any stone unturned. I’m going to do everything I can to be world champion.”
Twice an indoor world champion — in ’18 and ’22 — Morris will look to upgrade from the outdoor silvers she won in ’17, ’19 & ’22.
WOMEN’S POLE VAULT RESULTS
(August 03)
1. Sandi Morris (Pum) 15-10 (4.83);
2. Katie Moon (Nik) 15-6¼ (4.73);
3. Amanda Moll (Wa) 15-6¼;
4. Hana Moll (Wa) 15-6¼;
5. Brynn King (adi) 15-2¼ (4.63);
6. Chloe Timberg (unat) 15-2¼;
7. Gabriela Leon (Pum) 14-10¼ (4.53);
8. Emily Grove (unat) 14-4½ (4.38);
9. Kristen Leland (unat) 14-4½;
… nh—Nastassja Campbell (unat), Maren Garnett (BYU), Molly Haywood (Bay), Sydney Horn (HPt), Natalie Lark (Louis), Mason Meinershagen (Ks), Tori Thomas (Il).
| 14-4½ | 14-10¼ | 15-2¼ | 15-4¼ | 15-6¼ | 15-8¼ | 15-10 | 16-1¾ | |
| Morris | p | xo | o | p | o | p | xo | xxx |
| King | xo | p | o | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Thomas | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lark | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Campbell | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Meinershagen | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Grove | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Haywood | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Horn | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Garnett | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| H. Moll | xo | xxo | o | p | xxo | p | xxx | — |
| Leon | o | xxo | xp | xx | — | — | — | — |
| Timberg | o | xxo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Moon | p | xo | p | p | o | p | xxx | — |
| A. Moll | o | xxo | xxo | p | xo | p | xxx | — |
| 4.38 | 4.53 | 4.63 | 4.68 | 4.73 | 4.78 | 4.83 | 4.92 |
