Amanda Fassold wins in New Mexico with collegiate leading mark

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Entering the meet sharing the collegiate pole vault lead with two other vaulters, Razorback Amanda Fassold improved her indoor best to 14 feet, 10.75 inches (4.54) to take sole possession of the collegiate lead for 2023 as she claimed the event on the first day of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

Fassold won the competition that included a pair professional vaulters, – Anicka Newell and Chinne Okoronkwo – who each cleared 14-6.75 (4.44) to tie for second place.

Moving to No. 5 on the UA all-time list, Fassold is currently equal No. 10 on the 2023 world list.

Among all-time collegiate lists in the pole vault, Fassold is No. 12 among all collegians, and she becomes the fifth Razorback among that group. She is now No. 10 among U.S. collegians all-time.

The series of vaults for Fassold included a pair of attempts at her entering height of 13-11 (4.24), a one-time clearance at 14-2.75 (4.34), and then passing 14-6.75 (4.44). Two attempts were needed at 14-8.75 (4.49) and then she mastered the 14-10.75 on one attempt. Three misses followed at 15-0.75 (4.59).

Grace Ridgeway finished tied for fifth in the pole vault, clearing a career best of 13-11 to mark her third consecutive meet this season with a career best.

Bailee McCorkle and Kaitlyn Banas both cleared 13-5 (4.09) to place seventh and 10th, respectively. Marin Chamberlin tied for 13th with a clearance of 12-11 (3.94).

A trio of career best times were established in the 200m as Joanne Reid led the Razorback crew with a 23.06 that placed sixth overall. It moves Reid to equal No. 6 on the UA all-time list. Ariane Linton (23.42) and Ashanti Denton (23.58) registered career bests as well.

Ainsley Erzen won her section of the seeded 800m in 2:10.89 and placed seventh overall among the two sections. She finished as the top freshman in the field.

Tara Davis, who trains in Fayetteville, claimed the long jump with a leap of 22-1 (6.73) in the final round after leading the competition through each round. Razorback Madison Langley-Walker placed ninth with a mark of 19-6.25 (5.95).

Action continues Saturday in the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. A live stream through subscription service FloTrack begins at 11 a.m. CT.