Nageotte builds momentum towards Olympics with Diamond League win in Monaco...


FONTVIEILLE, Monaco
—In her first meet since winning the US Olympic Track & Field trials pole vault competition, former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte (Paul Merca photo) took the victory Friday night at the Herculis Meeting at Stade Louis II, the sixth stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.

After passing the opening height of 14-9 (4.50m), she opened with a second attempt make at 15-5 (4.70m), then needed all three attempts at the next height of 15-9 (4.80m), which only placed her third going into the next bar, set at 16-0.75 (4.90m).

A first attempt make at that height put the pressure on Russia's Anzhelika Sidorova, the reigning world outdoor champion, and defending Olympic champ Katerina Stefanidi. 

Stefanidi missed all three attempts at 16-0.75 (4.90m), while Sidorova passed after missing once, to the next height of 16-3.25 (4.96m), and subsequently missed her two attempts.

Nageotte missed all three attempts at 16-3.25 (4.96m), but got the win. 

Sidorova was second at 15-9 (4.80m), with Stefanidi third at the same height.

Afterwards, Nageotte said, "The biggest change lately have been bigger poles and I now feel I can get and stay upside down in a way that I haven't before so that that's kind of the big thing but I think this is an accumulation of the last ' years working with my coach (Washington alum) Brad Walker, it is just taking time and repetitions and numbers and last year it was nothing but time to train and rep that out and I think that's why it is finally coming together."

"I feel a bit of pressure ahead of Tokyo but after the US Trials, this is more like a relief and I am very excited now that I am there and get to go. Let's just show everybody what we have been working on and what we can do. That's everything we have worked for. I feel more excited about Tokyo but I am sure than in 2 weeks from now it will feel very different."

The Wanda Diamond League circuit returns to Gateshead, England on July 13th for the Müller British Grand Prix meeting, where Nageotte looks to get another Diamond League win.

Washington alum Olivia Gruver is also entered in the British Grand Prix.

Complete results of the Herculis Meeting are available here.

CJ ALLEN GETS WORLD CHAMPS STANDARD AT STARS & STRIPES CLASSIC...

At the Stars & Stripes Classic in Atlanta, Washington State alum CJ Allen made a major breakthrough in winning the 400 hurdles at Friday night's nationally televised American Track League event.

Allen won in a personal best 48.73, dropping it down from the 48.97 set last month in Nashville. 

More importantly, he ducked under the qualifying standard for next year's world track & field championships in Eugene. Incidentally, the standards for next year's championships are identical to the 2021 Olympic Games standards.

Former Renton resident Devon Allen, who is sharpening up for the Olympics, finished third in the finals of the 110 hurdles, running 13.33, as Michael Dickson won in 13.23.

Earlier in the meet, Allen qualified for the finals with the fastest time in the heats, winning in an identical time of 13.33.

Federal Way HS alum Hannah Cunliffe finished seventh in the finals of the 100 meter dash, running 11.49, as University of Oregon alum English Gardner won in 11.12.

Cunliffe qualified for the finals by finishing third in her heat in 11.40.

The American Track League circuit moves to Los Angeles for two meets on July 18th & 25th, then to Memphis on August 14th-15th, before finishing the series in Seattle (venue TBA) on August 18th.

Complete results of the Stars & Stripes Classic are available here.

PAUL RYAN BREAKS WSU OUTDOOR MILE RECORD....

In New York, Washington State senior Paul Ryan broke the school record in the mile at the Trials of Miles Night at the Track Friday night at Icahn Stadium.

Ryan ran 3:57.51 to break the previous Cougar outdoor school record set in 1991 by Samuel Kibiri at Stanford.

Canada's Charles Philibert-Thiboutot won the race in 3:55.35.

Complete results of the Trials of Miles Night at the Track are available here.

NOTE: World Athletics, the Wanda Diamond League, Trials of Miles, and the American Track League contributed to this report.

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