Andrew Irwin wins pole vault jump-off for third place, trip to World Championships

EUGENE – Arkansas alum Andrew Irwin finished in a tie for third place in the pole vault, equaling his season best of 18 feet, 4.5 inches (5.60), and then won the jump-off at Hayward Field to claim a berth to the World Championships.

Both Irwin and Jacob Wooten, who were tied for third place, have the qualifying standard for the World Championships but a jump-off was needed to determine the third person making Team USA in the event.

“It was a hard fought battle,” noted Irwin. “I’m glad to see that I made a couple of bars and won the jump-off. So, it worked out really nice.”

Chris Nilsen won the event with an 18-8.25 (5.70) mark that was matched by runner-up Luke Winder.

“After Luke cleared 5.70, Jacob and I knew we were going to have a jump-off for that last spot,” said Irwin. “It is a little nerve racking, especially knowing Jacob can go out there and pop 5.70 with no big deal, which we both are very capable of.

“I came out with the third-place security. I’ll take it and go home.”

A total of seven vaulters cleared the 18-4.5 height among the field of 16, and Irwin and Wooten were the only two who had a clean sheet on the opening height of 18-0.5 (5.50) and 18-4.5.

The World Championships will be held from July 15-24 at Hayward Field.

The final day of the USATF U20 Championships had a pair of Razorbacks in finals. Connor Washington placed fourth in the 200m while Brandon Battle finished sixth in the 400m

Washington led the field in the prelims with a 20.79 and then improved to 20.51 in the final. Battle posted a time of 46.31 in the 400m.

Racing in the final of the USATF Championship 3,000m steeplechase, Arkansas alum Frankline Tonui placed 11^th in 8:37.43.

The opening round of the 110m hurdles had Tre’Bien Gilbert advancing to the semifinal with a 13.49 that placed third in the final of four heats to auto qualify for the semifinal with a time that ranked 10^th overall.

The top three times in the prelims belonged to Grant Holloway (13.11), Trey Cunningham (13.13), and Devon Allen (13.27). The semifinal and final will be held on Sunday.

Razorbacks in the 110m hurdles also included Matthew Lewis-Banks (14.12) and Daniel Spejcher (14.49), placing 27^th and 32^nd overall.

USATF Schedule (PT) | June 23-26 | Live results: https://results.usatf.org/2022Outdoors/

Sunday | June 26