Katie Moon's clutch third attempt make wins Diamond League pole vault in Brussels...
BRUSSELS--On a cool evening in the Belgian capital, former Pullman resident Katie Moon (photo courtesy Wanda Diamond League) was the only vaulter to clear the eventual winning height of 15-11 (4.85m) at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet, the final regular season meet of the Wanda Diamond League circuit before next week's finals in Zürich.
Moon started her competition at King Baudouin Stadium at 14-10.75 (4.54m), and went clean on her first attempts through four heights, along with Great Britain's Molly Caudery.
Still hanging around with Moon and Caudery as the bar went to 15-9 (4.80m) was NCAA outdoor champion Hana Moll of the University of Washington, after clearing 15-6.5 (4.74m) on her second attempt.
Moll missed on all three attempts at 15-9 (4.80m), while Moon and Caudery each cleared on their first attempt.
With the two even on makes going to 15-11 (4.85m), Caudery missed on all three tries, while Moon, who was sporting a long sleeve competition top because of the 62-degree conditions, was clutch on her third attempt to clinch the victory.
Moon took three attempts at 16-0.75 (4.90m), but was unsuccessful.
Hana Moll, who was fourth last week in Silesia, Poland, finished third, clearing 15-6.5 (4.74m).
Twin sister Amanda, the NCAA indoor champ, who still holds the world's best mark this season at 16-1.75 (4.91m), finished tenth with a best of 14-6.75 (4.44m), which was her opening height.
After the meet, Moon, who is the Diamond League points leader in the women's pole vault, told reporters, "It was awesome. This was really what I was hoping for, especially going into Tokyo and the Diamond League final. I felt that my US Championships didn´t go the way that I was hoping for, technical wise. I wanted to come in today and execute a really good jump. I think that I did that more than once. I am very happy with the win, but most of all with how I jumped. My jump over 4.85 was one of the best jumps I´ve ever taken. Pole vault is tough. I´ve done very well in the sport but bad competitions can really affect you mentally. This competition was a much needed confidence boost for me."
In the women's 400 hurdles, Washington alum Gianna Woodruff, who has had an up and down season so far, ran to a second place finish in a season best 53.89.
Woodruff got off to a strong start, but was overtaken at around the eighth hurdle by American Anna Cockrell.
Cockrell took the win in 53.66.
Woodruff, who needed a top-half finish in Brussels to clinch her spot in the Diamond League finals in Zürich, got exactly that with her second place finish, earning seven points Friday night. Entering the Brussels meet, she was in sixth place in the Diamond League women's 400 hurdles standings with 18 points.
In the mixed zone, Woodruff said, "I've (finally) put a race together, which was nice. Hopefully I will be in the Diamond League final next week. I think I will have enough points with today's second place. I am just finishing stronger now, that's the only difference compared to my other races."
While there were no athletes with Washington ties competing, fans of Washington alum Aaron Ahl may be disappointed after Friday night's men's 3000 steeplechase.
Going into tonight, Ahl was ranked 37th in the Road to Tokyo standings (top 36, or all who own the qualifying standard) after running a personal best in last Sunday's NACAC championships in Freeport, Bahamas.
One new athlete ducked under the 8:15.00 qualifying standard, so, pending any withdrawals from any of the top 36 in the Road To Tokyo, Ahl will most likely be out of Tokyo.
NOTE: The Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet and the Wanda Diamond League contributed to this report.
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