Robert Black

Morris Golden In California Sunshine

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Rio Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris upgraded to gold at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships in Sacramento as the top performer in the women’s pole vault on Sunday afternoon.

In a competition which saw the field of 17 narrowed down to nine after the first height, Morris remained poised and collected, registering only one miss through her entire series on the runway. The American outdoor record-holder was the only vaulter to clear bars that followed 4.65m/15-3 and exited the competition as the USATF champion with a best clearance of 4.80m/15-9. Morris along with Jenn Suhr (second) and South Dakota’s Emily Grove (third) will represent the United States in London, England this August at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Sparkle Sparkles
ProHog Sparkle McKnight qualified for the world championships as the 400-meter hurdles champion at the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago National Championships. McKnight won the race by a 2.92-second margin, crossing the finish line well ahead of the world standard in 55.61 seconds. The performance was her best in the event so far this season and just .20 seconds off her PR.

Additional Notable Performances
• Alex Gochenour finished fourth in the heptathlon with personal best of 6,129 points.
• Chrishuna Williams finished fifth in the 800-meter run in 2:00.58.
• Payton Stumbaugh finished ninth in the heptathlon with 5,723 points.

Arkansas finished the weekend with three world championships qualifiers and two Pan American junior championship qualifiers. In addition to this weekend’s qualifiers, Dominique Scott-Efurd (5,000) brings the current total count of London-Bound Hogs to four. Two-time Olympian Tina Sutej (Slovenia) may also make the trip but needs to vault the world standard of 4.55m/14-11 by July 23.

2017 IAAF World Championships Qualifiers: Meet Central
South Africa
Dominique Scott-Efurd (5,000 Meters)

Trinidad & Tobago
Sparkle McKnight (400-Meter Hurdles)

United States
Daina Harper (4-x-400-meter relay pool)
Sandi Morris (Pole Vault)

2017 Pan American Junior Championships
United States
Maddy Reed (1,500 Meters)
Taylor Werner (5,000 Meters)

USATF Outdoor Championships
Day Four Results

800 Meters Finals
5. Chrishuna Williams – 2:00.58

Pole Vault Finals
1. Sandi Morris – 4.80m/15-9
— Lexi Weeks
— Tori Weeks

Heptathlon
5. Alex Gochenour – 6,129 points
5. 100mH – 13.41 (1,063)
8. High Jump – 1.68m (830)
2. Shot Put – 13.91m (788)
7. 200m – 24.22 (960)
3. Long Jump – 6.15m (896)
7. Javelin – 40.35m (674)
2. 800m – 2:13.21 (918)

9. Payton Stumbaugh – 5,723 points
3. 100mH – 13.19 (1,096)
8. High Jump – 1.68m (830)
15. Shot Put – 11.24m (611)
3. 200m – 23.58 (1,021)
7. Long Jump – 5.98m (843)
15. Javelin – 31.19m (499)
10. 800m – 2:20.01 (823)

Taliyah Brooks – 3,651 points (Did not complete day two)
4. 100mH – 13.25 (1,087)
4. High Jump – 1.80m (978)
14. Shot Put – 11.70m (641)
8. 200m – 24.38 (945)

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