Katie Nageotte adds world crown to Olympic gold medal in TrackTown USA...
EUGENE--You can add the title of world champion to the resume of former Pullman resident Katie Nageotte (Paul Merca photo), as the former Washington State University volunteer coach won the pole vault competition to conclude day 3 of ten at the World Athletics Outdoor Championships on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Nageotte started clean with first attempt makes at 14-7.25 (4.45m) and 15-1 (4.60m), before needing a second attempt to clear 15-5 (4.70m) and 15-9 (4.80m).
Training partner and US teammate Sandi Morris took the lead from Nageotte with first attempt makes at 15-5 (4.70m) and 15-9 (4.80m).
The tide was turned at a 2022 outdoor world leading 15-11 (4.85m) when Nageotte cleared the bar on her first attempt, while Morris needed two shots to stay alive.
The duo, plus eventual third place finisher Nina Kennedy of Australia, who trained for Eugene with the rest of the Australian squad in Seattle at their holding camp at the University of Washington all missed their attempts at 16-0.75 (4.90m).
The extra attempt at 15-11 by Morris was the difference between the victory and a sweep of the world indoor and outdoor titles in 2022. Instead, Morris had to be content with her third straight silver medal at the world outdoor championships.
Afterwards, Husky Hall of Fame member and former world champion Brad Walker expressed joy in his two charges going 1-2 in the event for the second straight world championship this season.
The gold/silver combination by Nageotte and Morris marked the second multi-podium finish by a country after Poland turned the trick in the 2009 championships in Berlin.
In her post-event presser, Nageotte spoke about the mental toll winning the Olympic title took on her.
“I can honestly say this has been the hardest year of my life from a pole vault standpoint in my career,” Nageotte said. “Even two months ago I was considering retirement because coming in every day feeling defeated and unmotivated, was really hard.”
“After the Olympics, I never really got a break," Nageotte said. “I got a physical break; I never got an emotional break. I was always talking about (winning the gold medal) and doing events, and opportunities surrounding it, which was amazing, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But I didn’t realize how exhausting that was and how tired I was because at the end of the day it was five years, not four years, but five years of constant stress of making the team and winning.
“I worked with sports psychiatrists, I tried all kinds of things and so it did come back. I think I just needed time for it to bounce back and I’m so grateful that I did.”
She also missed a meet early in the outdoor season when she came down with Covid-19.
In contrast, former Renton resident and Oregon standout Devon Allen's attempt to make a podium at either the world championships or Olympics were shot down in the finals after being charged with a false start.
After finishing second in the third semifinal race in a wind-aided 13.09, Allen saw his best chance to medal before reporting to the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp, as Olympic champ Hansle Parchment of Jamaica, who won the heat in 13.02, apparently hurt himself during the race, or while warming up for the finals, depending on the source.
Allen was charged with jumping the gun, with Allen's reaction time .099, just under the .100 needed for a legal race, and which was negligible to the naked eye.
Reigning world champion Grant Holloway successfully defended the tile he won in Doha, running 13.03 to hold off fellow American and NCAA champ Trey Cunningham of Florida State, running 13.03 to 13.08.
In the men's 1500 semifinals, Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr of Great Britain and the Seattle based Brooks Beasts won the first of the two semifinal races, running 3:36.92 by making a charge in the last 150 to get one of the five automatic spots to Tuesday night's final,
Johnny Gregorek, who is coached remotely by UW men's coach Andy Powell, finished eighth in 3:37.55.
In a heat won by Kenya's Abel Kipsang in 3:33.68, the second semifinal saw former Husky Sam Tanner finish eighth in 3:36.32 and one spot out of the finals, as both time qualifiers came from his heat.
In addition to American victories by Nageotte, Holloway, and Ryan Crouser (75-3.75/22.94m) in the shot put Sunday night, hammer thrower Brooke Andersen won the world title with a sixth round toss of 259-1 (78.96m). Through the third day, Team USATF has six golds, four silvers and four bronze medals.
Here's a photo recap of Sunday's action from our Instagram page:
Monday's action at these world championships will see no athletes with Washington ties competing. Monday's finals include the women's marathon, men's high jump, women's triple jump, men's steeple, and women's 1500.
Results and start lists are available via the World Athletics Oregon22 microsite.
NOTE: World Athletics and the Oregon22 organizing committee 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.
Comments