Sandi Morris claims USATF Indoor pole vault title
SPOKANE, Washington – Arkansas alum Sandi Morris defeated Tokyo Olympic champion Katie Nageotte for the 2022 USATF Indoor pole vault title, clearing a season best of 15 feet, 9 inches for the victory and will be part of Team USA at the World Indoor Championships next month.
A total of four athletes with ties to Arkansas qualified for the World Athletes Indoor Championships, which will be held March 11-13 in Belgrade, Serbia. The top two finishers in each event with the World Indoor qualifying standard are eligible to make Team USA.
The overall result was three event champions and one runner-up with Jarrion Lawson claiming the long jump title in the sixth and final round while Ryan Crouser established a world-leading mark to win the shot put. Darryl Sullivan, who trains at UA, placed second in the high jump.
Morris cleared 15-9 (4.80) to defeat Olympic champion Katie Nageotte (15-7) for the pole vault title. Nageotte was clean with first attempt clearances at six bars through the 15-7 height. Then she missed twice at 15-9 while Morris passed that height.
After the pair of misses at 15-9 , Nageotte passed to 15-11 and missed her only attempt at that height. With the victory secured, Morris attempted 16-0 (4.88) and had three misses.
In the last World Indoor Championships held in 2018, Morris established a meet record of 16-2.75 (4.95) in Birmingham, England.
Lawson was stationed in fourth place among the three marks he produced in the first five rounds, with his best mark at that point measuring 25-9.5 (7.86). Then he bounded out to 26-10.5 (8.19) in round six to surpass Marquis Dendy (26-8.5 | 8.14) and JuVaughn Harrison (26-5 | 8.05) for the surprise victory.
Crouser set the USATF meet record of 74-1.75 (22.60) in 2020, the last year the USATF Indoor meet was held. He threatened that mark with a fourth-round heave of 73-10.25 (22.51), the current world leader for 2022. Runner-up Josh Awotunde had a career best of 71-4 (21.74).
Other finalists included UA alum Marqueze Washington placing third in the 400m with a time of 46.15, just 0.01 behind runner-up Donavan Brazier (46.14). Christina Clemons, who trains at UA, produced a season best of 7.92 for third in the 60m hurdles behind a 7.82 for Gabbi Cunningham and 7.91 by Alaysha Johnson.
Washington may be included in the 4×400 relay pool. Back in 2018 he earned a silver medal after running in the 4×400 prelims at the World Indoors.
Sullivan’s place in the high jump was determined by fewer misses at the deciding height of 7-4.5 (2.25). Sullivan cleared on his second attempt while Darius Carbin needed three attempts. JuVaughn Harrison won the event with a 7-5.75 (2.28).
Additional Razorback alums included Kiara Parker finishing fifth in the 60m at 7.20, Nikki Hiltz clocking 4:10.87 for sixth in the 1,500m, and Erich Sullins hitting a mark of 74-6 (22.72) to place eighth in the weight throw.
