The train keeps rolling for Hana Moll, as she wins second straight Diamond League pole vault...

ZURICH, Switzerland--Washington's Hana Moll (Chiara Montesano/Wanda Diamond League photo) continued her drive to the Wanda Diamond League finals next week by taking her second straight win in the women's pole vault Wednesday afternoon at the Zürich Weltklasse city event at the Zürich Hauptbahnhof or Main Train Station.

Competing in front of a crowd of about 3000 people in an intimate setting at the Hauptbahnhof, while commuters were walking past the event to get to their trains, Moll started the day on shaky grounds, needing all three attempts to stave off elimination at the first two heights of 14-9 (4.50m) and 15-3 (4.65m).

Meanwhile, defending world champion and former Pullman resident Katie Moon, along with world champs teammate Sandi Morris cruised through the first two heights with minimum efforts, each clearing on their first attempts.

According to Washington pole vault assistant coach Tim Reilly, the change happened after she moved to a smaller pole and moving the standards back deeper, as on the first bar, she wasn't landing as deep into the pit.

After the clearance at 15-3 (4.65m), Moll turned it around at 15-7 (4.75m) with a first attempt clearance at that bar, using the bigger pole. 

With that clearance, Moll moved up to fifth place in the standings, with six competitors remaining at the next height of 15-11 (4.85m), including Moon, Morris and local favorite Angelica Moser of Switzerland.

Moll and Moser both cleared that bar on their second attempts, while three others, including Moon, bowed out of the competition.

Morris, who had two misses, passed on her third, for one shot at the next height of 16-0.75 (4.90m).

Moll, the first of the three jumpers remaining, grabbed a stiffer pole, and cleared the bar on her first attempt to set a new personal best, eclipsing her previous personal best of 16-0 (4.88m) set in January at the UW Invitational/Mile City. That gamble to use a stiffer pole, and as Reilly put it, "roll the dice for the win", paid off and put the pressure on Morris and Moser.

Morris missed on her one attempt, while Moser missed all three shots at the height, which would also have been a new personal best.

After clinching the win, which was Hana's tenth overall jump of the day, she elected to call it a day, and not go for the magic 5 meter (16-4.75) bar.

In the mixed zone, Moll told reporters, "Wow! I did such a good competition. Zurich did not disappoint. I am so strong recently because of my mindset, just really focusing and working on what I have to improve. I have to stay healthy, stay strong and use bigger poles. This competition in the train station felt amazing. I never asked for clapping, but they were cheering on every single athlete. I appreciate that, it is a real community."

Moon, who tied for third with Morris, said afterwards, "It was an awesome competition, the best I felt all year on a runway. I felt I got everything dialed all in and I used my biggest pole. I am so happy. This year was about taking it easier and protecting my energy, being calmer emotionally. After the Monaco meeting I had a good training (block) and now I am jumping myself into shape."

With that mark, Hana moves into a tie for 13th on the all time world list, but remains fifth on the all time US list. She still does not have the Moll family record of 16-1.75 (4.91m), which belongs to twin sister Amanda, who was in attendance, but ended her season after the Monaco meet last month. 

Her victory assures her a spot in next week's Wanda Diamond League finals in Brussels, and will solidify her position for a spot in the World Athletics Ultimate Championships September 11-13th in Budapest.

With the qualifying period for next year's world championships in Beijing opening up this week, Hana surpassed the standard of 15-7 (4.75m). Moon already has a bye into the meet as defending world champion.

The meet resumes Thursday, as Washington alums Sophie O'Sullivan and Gianna Woodruff go in the women's 1500 and 400 hurdles, respectively. 

O'Sullivan races at 10:08 am Pacific, before the international TV window opens, and Woodruff goes in the first event of the TV window at 11:04 am Pacific.

Flotrack ($) will live stream the meet starting at 11 am Pacific in the USA.

Results of the Zürich Weltklasse city event are available here.

AIDAN RYAN LEADS FOUR DAWGS ACROSS THE LINE IN 1500M IN PFUNGSTADT...

At the Pfungstädter Abendsportfest August meet in Pfungstadt, Germany, Washington alum Aidan Ryan was the top Husky alum in the top section of the men's 1500 Wednesday night.

The Atlanta-based Ryan ran a personal best 3:35.01, as Villanova standout Marco Langon won in 3:34.22.

In the same heat, UW alum Kieran Lumb of Canada was tenth in 3:37.21, and former Husky Sam Tanner of New Zealand finished 14th in 3:39.64.

UW alum Brian Fay of Ireland was eighth in the second section of the 1500 in 3:41.34.

Results of the Pfungstädter Abendsportfest August meet are available here.

At the Wiesław Maniak Memorial meet in Szczecin, Poland Wednesday night, Washington alum Carley Thomas, who is making a comeback after an injury riddled first half of this season, finished ninth in the women's 800.

Thomas ran 2:02.95, as Oregon alum Raevyn Rogers took the win in 1:58.86.

Complete results of the Wiesław Maniak Memorial meet in Szczecin, Poland are available here.

NOTE: The Wanda Diamond League, and the Pfungstädter Abendsportfest and Wiesław Maniak Memorial meets contributed to this report.

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