WEEKEND RECAP: Headwinds real winner at Birmingham Diamond League Sunday...

In Birmingham, England, the wind was the winner of the women’s pole vault competition Sunday as the vaulting was sub par at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham, the eleventh stop on the IAAF Diamond League tour.

Reigning world and Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece won the competition at a very modest 15-7 (4.75m), as the vaulters had to navigate a head wind.

Former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte (left/photo by Mike Scott) finished in a tie for seventh with a clearance of 14-11 (4.55m).

She needed two attempts to clear the opening height of 14-5.25 (4.40m), then three at 14-11 (4.55m), before bowing out at 15-3 (4.65m).

Courtesy of her Instagram page, here’s her thoughts on Sunday’s competition:

View this post on Instagram

Today was one of those days you’re happy to walk away injury free. The Birmingham head wind was the true winner. Congrats to every vaulter that cleared bars today! On to my favorite city, Paris ✨💕.

A post shared by Katie Nageotte (@ktnago13) on Aug 18, 2019 at 7:43am PDT

On a positive note, Nageotte has locked up a spot in the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 6th, as she currently stands fifth with 16 points, with only the Meeting de Paris on Friday left before the two Diamond League final meets in Zurich and Brussels.

In the women’s steeplechase, Washington alum Mel Lawrence finished 14th in 9:53.61, as Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya set a meet record by running 9:05.55.

In the non-Diamond League scoring men’s 1500, Washington volunteer coach Amos Bartelsmeyer was 17th in 3:47.32, as Uganda’s Ronald Musagala won in 3:35.12.

Bartelsmeyer, who recently won the German title at 1500 meters, is still looking to get under the 3:36.00 mark needed to qualify for the Doha world championships at the end of September.

Complete results of the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham are available here.