THIS WAS A REMATCH between last year’s joint gold medalists at Budapest, Nina Kennedy and Katie Moon, whose current seasons had evolved in different directions.
Kennedy, 27, has been this year’s most consistent competitor, never out-vaulted, with repeated high marks and only one loss. Moon was hampered by severe Achilles tendinitis, which kept her inactive for most of the spring, and since then in less-than-optimal form.
Atop the yearly list, Britain’s Molly Caudery improved more than 6 inches, to 16-1¾ (4.92), and won the World Indoor, while Angelica Moser (Switzerland) cleared 16-0 (4.88), and topped Caudery to win the European title. Another serious medal contender, Alysha Newman (Canada), returned after years of physical and mental struggles with a PR and several strong competitions.
Only 11 entrants could manage 14-11 (4.55) in the qualifying round. Among them was Moon, displaying her best form of the season.
Officials then added all who had cleared 14-5¼ (4.40) on their first attempts, resulting in a 19-woman final. Not among them were Americans Bridget Williams and Brynn King, neither close to a clearance and both more than a foot below their Trials vaults. Also out was a disconsolate Caudery, who chose to open at 14-11 (4,55) and missed all three tries.
Finals vaulting began on a warm, cloudy evening at 14-5¼ (4.40), which everyone cleared. The next bar, at 15-1 (4.60), cut the field to 13. Among the principals, only Newman needed two attempts.
Then to 15-5 (4.70), and 9 were over — the most ever. Again, a series of first-clearances, except for Kennedy, who needed two tries.
Newman hit the bar on her first try at 15-9 (4.80), but it stayed on, and Moon, Moser and Kennedy joined her with initial-attempt clearances. Amálie Švábíková surprised everyone by succeeding on her third for a Czech Record.
Moon needed two tries at 15-11 (4.85), as did Newman, whose success established a new Canadian Record. Meanwhile, a very intense Kennedy produced a huge clearance on her first, and Moser and Švábíková had to settle for 4th and 5th.
The Australian was not to be denied. Over 16-¾ (4.90) on her first try — a height neither Moon (who passed to 16-2¾, in vain) nor Newman could surmount — this gold medal was hers alone.
Successfully outlasting a series of delays and equipment failures, Kennedy was finally able to erupt with emotion. “I knew it was going to be a good night when I woke up this morning. It was just about getting the job done. At 4.85 [15-11], I knew ‘It’s not over yet.’ I knew first-attempt clearances at those high bars would take the gold. I put all my focus into that exact second. I’ve learned, I’ve grown, and I’ve taken a lot of experience into tonight.”
Added Moon: “It was so much fun. I am so happy to walk away with a medal today. I felt like if my body could hold up, this is what I could be capable of.”
WOMEN’S POLE VAULT RESULTS
FINAL (August 07)
(temperature 75-73F/24-23C; humidity 37-41%)
1. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 16-¾ (4.90) =NR;
2. Katie Moon (US) 15-11 (4.85);
3. Alysha Newman (Can) 15-11 (4.85) NR;
4. Angelica Moser (Swi) 15-9 (4.80);
5. Amálie Švábíková (CzR) 15-9 (4.80) NR;
=6. Eliza McCartney (NZ) 15-5 (4.70);
=6. Elisa Molinarolo (Ita) 15-5 (4.70);
=6. Wilma Murto (Fin) 15-5 (4.70);
9. Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) 15-5 (4.70);
10. Robeilys Peinado (Ven) 15-1 (4.60);
11. Marie-Julie Bonnin (Fra) 15-1 (4.60);
12. Imogen Ayris (NZ) 15-1 (4.60) PR;
13. Olivia McTaggart (NZ) 15-1 (4.60);
=14. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-5¼ (4.40);
=14. Ninon Chapelle (Fra) 14-5¼ (4.40);
=14. Anjuli Knäsche (Ger) 14-5¼ (4.40);
=14. Elina Lampela (Fin) 14-5¼ (4.40);
18. Lene Onsrud Retzius (Nor) 14-5¼ (4.40);
19. Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-5¼ (4.40).
(best-ever mark-for-place: =3, =4, =5, =9)
| 14-5¼ | 15-1 | 15-5 | 15-9 | 15-11 | 16-¾ | 16-2¾ | |
| Peinado | o | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Newman | o | xo | o | o | xo | xxx | — |
| Retzius | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Murto | o | o | o | xxx | — | — | — |
| Knäsche | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Stefanídi | xo | o | o | xxx | — | — | — |
| Molinarolo | o | o | o | xxx | — | — | — |
| Šutej | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moon | o | o | o | o | xo | xp | xx |
| Ayris | xxo | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Chapelle | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moser | o | o | o | o | xxp | x | — |
| McCartney | p | o | o | xxx | — | — | — |
| Kennedy | o | o | xo | o | o | o | xpp |
| Bruni | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| McTaggart | o | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Švábíková | o | o | xo | xxo | xxx | — | — |
| Lampela | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bonnin | xo | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| 4.40 | 4.60 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 4.85 | 4.90 | 4.95 |
QUALIFYING (August 05; auto-qualifier 15-5/4.70)
Qualifiers: Bruni, Kennedy, Moser, Švábíková, Molinarolo, Moon, Lampela, Newman, Stefanídi, McCartney & Murto cleared 14-11/4.55; all other finalists cleared 14-5¼/4.40;
Non-qualifiers:
[14-5¼/4.40]—Juliana Campos (Bra), Bridget Williams (US), Brynn King (US), Chunge Niu (Chn), Hanga Klekner (Hun), Anicka Newell (Can);
[13-9¼/4.20]—Eléni-Klaoúdia Pólak (Gre), Pascale Stöcklin (Swi), Holly Bradshaw (GB);
[nh]—Molly Caudery (GB).