Suhr breaks championship record, Americans take home medals as pole vault takes center stage at Portland 2016

3/17/2016

PORTLAND, Oregon — In the greatest women’s pole vault competition in track & field history, the first time ever in a women’s pole vault competition, four women went over 4.80m.

It was a picture-perfect Jenn Suhr who added World Indoor gold to her Olympic title with a perfect card through 4.90m/16-0.75.   “It was great to complete my indoor season with the world indoor title.”  Suhr said.  “And I’ve jumped a championship record today, a world record earlier. But I still feel like there is so much more in me in terms of performance, so I strive to do better.

Suhr (Fredonia, New York) took only four vaults in the competition as Team USA swept the pole vault for the first time at World Indoors since Russia did it in 2003. Sandi Morris won silver with a 4.85, equaling the best-ever height for place.  “Competing professionally is a whole different ball game, but I still get to have fun and I love it to death. This is the year of the women’s pole vault movement.” Noted Morris.

After easily clearing 4.60m/15-1 and 4.75m/15-7, and passing on the heights in between, Suhr sailed over 4.85. A first-attempt clearance at 4.90/16-0.75 broke the meet record of 4.86, set by Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia in 2004.

Morris (Greenville, South Carolina) made her first three bars before just nicking the crossbar at 4.75m/15-7, a height she easily cleared on her second attempt. She had first-attempt clearances at 4.80 and 4.85 before missing twice at 4.90m/16-0.75 and once at 4.95m/ on her way to earning silver. Her 4.85 equaled the best-ever height for place.

US indoor champion Sandi Morris (4.85m) and Greek indoor record-holder Ekaterini Stefanidi (4.80m) joined Suhr on the podium with their first senior global championships medals.

Click here to read IAAF Report: Women’s Pole Vault Final.

Click here to read TeamUSA.org article.