Moll, 17, comes through with clutch clearance again at 14-3.25 (4.35m) to triumph in Colombia, earning memorable women’s title for Americans by joining men’s winner Volz from 2016

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Hana Moll was down to her last attempt at 14 feet, 3.25 inches (4.35m) more than five weeks ago just to make the United States roster for the World Athletics U20 Championships.

So, when faced with the same bar, but an even larger challenge Thursday to win the gold medal at Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium in Cali, Colombia, the 17-year-old pole vaulter rose to the occasion again to become the first American female athlete in meet history to capture the title.

Moll, representing Capital High in Washington and Northwest Pole Vault Club, produced a third-attempt clearance at 14-3.25 to prevent Germany’s Chiara Sistermann from grabbing gold.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better competition. It was definitely tough and it challenged me and I’m really proud of what both of us accomplished this year,” Hana said about herself and twin sister Amanda Moll.

“My mind was pretty blank to be honest (on the third-attempt clearance). I just really felt the feeling of curving my body and getting over the bar.”

INTERVIEWS | TIMETABLE/RESULTS

Sistermann and teammate Janne Sophie Ohrt both cleared 14-1.25 (4.30m) to secure the silver and bronze medals. It marked the second time in meet history that a pair of German athletes made the women’s pole vault podium, along with 2004 in Italy.

Since Sistermann made 14-1.25 on her first attempt and Moll cleared the bar on her second try, the German athlete had the advantage when the height was raised to 14-3.25, but left the door open for the U.S. runner-up following her third miss.

Ohrt needed three tries to clear 14-1.25 and was guaranteed bronze once she missed on her third opportunity at 14-3.25.

Desiree Freier, a former All-American at Arkansas, had been the only American women’s medalist in the event before Thursday, capturing silver in 2014 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Hana Moll came through in the clutch June 25 at the USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field to clear 14-3.25 and join Amanda on the team to compete in Colombia.

Amanda Moll, who entered the final as the global U20 leader this year at 14-9.50 (4.51m) after the competition was postponed from Wednesday following a two-hour rain delay, finished fifth Thursday at 13-9.25 (4.20m).

“Honestly, I’m a little disappointed, but I’m super proud of Hana,” Amanda said. “It’s been a long season and before I came here I had a little mental block, so I was trying to work through that because I wasn’t quite mentally where I’ve been (earlier) in the season.”

Elise Russis of France, who secured silver at last year’s World U20 Championships in Kenya, placed fourth at 13-9.25. Heather Abadie of Canada, who competes for Texas A&M, was eighth at 13-5.25 (4.10m) after earning bronze last year.

The only men’s pole vault gold medalist for the U.S. in meet history remains Deakin Volz from 2016 in Poland.

Following her seventh-place finish Wednesday in the 100-meter final, 16-year-old Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego High in Oregon produced the fastest opening-round time in the 200 meters for the U.S. with a wind-legal 23.25 effort.

Jayla Jamison of South Carolina was second overall for the Americans in 23.36.

Brenda Chebet of Kenya led all qualifiers in the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:12.20, with U.S. athletes Mia Barnett of Virginia also advancing in 4:18.51 and Colorado signee Addy Wiley of Huntington North High in Indiana moving on in 4:19.39.

Ethiopia’s Ermias Girma returned following a silver medal Wednesday in the men’s 1,500 final to lead all qualifiers in the 800 prelims in 1:48.39.

Samuel Rodman of Princeton advanced for the U.S. in 1:50.36, as did Miles Brown of Michigan in 1:51.82.

Alexis James of Jamaica ran a personal-best 13.04 to produce the fastest qualifying mark in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Jalaysiya Smith of USC clocked 13.42 and Eddiyah Frye of Georgia ran 13.57 to advance to the semifinals for the Americans.

Keyshawn Strachan of the Bahamas achieved the top performance in men’s javelin throw qualifying with a 252-2 (76.87m) effort.

Evan Niedrowski of Monmouth advanced for the U.S. with a throw of 227-9 (69.42m).

Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert soared to the top qualifying mark in the men’s triple jump at 53-8.50 (16.37m).

Solomon Washington of Texas advanced to the final with a personal-best 52-foot (15.85m) effort and he will be joined by U.S. teammate Floyd Whitaker of Minnesota at 51 feet (15.54m).

JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge High in Washington, the youngest American competitor at age 15, enters the final event of the women’s heptathlon in 12th place with 4,630 points.

Bryanna Craig, a Louisiana Tech-bound graduate of Ruston High in Louisiana, 18, has 4,374 points entering the 800 meters.

Finland’s Saga Vanninen, last year’s gold medalist in Kenya, leads all competitors with 5,377 points following the completion of six events.