Former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte wins Olympic pole vault title...

TOKYO--Former Pullman resident and 2018-19 Washington State University volunteer coach Katie Nageotte (photo courtesy USA Track & Field) survived a rocky start to win the women's pole vault in Thursday night's session of the Olympic track & field competition at Olympic Stadium.

Nageotte, the tenth vaulter in the order, needed three tries to clear the opening height of 14-9 (4.50m), and a second try at the next height of 15-5 (4.70m) before she found her groove.

In the history of Olympic pole vault competition, no Olympic champion has ever started with two misses at the opening height.

Once the bar was raised to the third height of 15-9 (4.80m), Nageotte responded with a first attempt clearance to put her into medal position, then cleared the next height of 15-11 (4.85m) along with defending world champion Anzhelika Sidorova of Russia and Holly Bradshaw of Great Britain to assure herself a medal.

Defending Olympic champ Katerina Stefanidi, who like Nageotte, needed a third attempt at the opening height of 14-9 (4.50m) just to survive the competition, missed at 15-11 (4.85m), then passed to 16-0.75 (4.90m), knowing that a clearance at 15-11 wouldn't assure her of a medal.

Stanford alum Stefanidi missed her two attempts at 16-0.75 (4.90m) to finish fourth, as did Bradshaw. 

Nageotte cleared 16-0.75 (4.90m) on her second attempt, and Sidorova, who was jumping before Nageotte in the order and was leading up to that height, passed to 16-2.75 (4.95m) in an attempt to regain the lead after missing twice at 16-0.75.

Sidorova missed her one attempt to give Nageotte the win.

Nageotte then ran into the stands to hug coach Brad Walker, the University of Washington hall of fame member, former Washington State University jumps coach & American record holder, and the man who Nageotte convinced to coach her after the 2017 season where she finished seventh at the USA outdoor nationals.

After a brief conversation, she took one shot at 16-5.25 (5.01m) in an attempt to join the 5 meter club, but perhaps overcome by the emotion of winning the Olympic title, ran through the pit and called it a day.

"It hasn't even begun to sink in yet,” said Nageotte, whose start of the year was affected by her contracting Covid-19. “We've all been through so much with Covid and everything. This is the biggest dream I have ever had for myself, and here I am, living the dream."

Earlier in the session, Josh Kerr of Seattle's Brooks Beasts advanced to the finals in the men's 1500, finishing third in 3:32.18, while 2018-19 University of Washington volunteer coach and defending Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz failed to qualify for the final, as he finished ninth in the heat in a season best 3:33.69.

Australia's Stewart McSweyn assured that the race would not be a slow and tactical affair, as he went to the front and kept the pace honest. McSweyn was rewarded with a fifth place finish in 3:32.54 and the last automatic qualifying spot for Saturday night's final.

In the mixed zone, Centrowitz told reporters, “There really is no excuse with fitness or injuries. I think it was just poor execution and not being able to relax. I was just fighting myself the whole way.”

Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas added the Olympic title to the world championship that he won over 400 meters, taking the title in 43.85, followed by Anthony Zambrano of Colombia in 44.08, and 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada in 44.19.

Damian Warner of Canada won the decathlon with a final score of 9018 points, followed by 2017 world champion Kevin Mayer of France's 8726, and Australia's Ashley Moloney's 8649 points, 38 points better than Team USATF's Garrett Scantling's 8611.

Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium successfully defended her Olympic heptathlon title with a final score of 6791 points, followed by Anouk Vetter of the Netherlands, who scored 6689. Vetter's Dutch teammate Emma Oosterwegel was third with 6590 points.

No athletes with Washington ties are competing Friday. The only track athlete remaining is Josh Kerr, who goes in the finals of the 1500 at 4:40 am Saturday morning in Seattle/8:40 pm Saturday evening in Tokyo.

The Olympic track and field competition ends Sunday morning at 7 am/3 pm Saturday afternoon in Seattle with the men's marathon in Sapporo, featuring Bellingham native Jake Riley.

Results and start lists are available through the home page of the World Athletics Tokyo Olympics microsite.

NOTE: The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, USA Track & Field, & World Athletics contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links.