BRUSSELS, Belgium -- On Wednesday, Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris was counting down her last few days in Europe, restless to return home to family and experience all of the highlights that an American autumn has to offer: Colored leaves, pumpkins galore and boots season. Two days later, the pole vault world leader was back in her natural habitat -- a mondo runway with her pole in tow, breaking more records.
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Morris took the United States outdoor national record with a clearance of 5.00m/16-5 in Brussels at the final Diamond League meeting of the season at Memorial Van Damme on Friday evening, placing ahead of Rio gold medalist Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece. She was a mere two centimeters short from being able to lay full claim to the American best in the event.
Morris’ Vault Progressions
Her run for history began with an opening second attempt clearance at 4.52m/14-10. During the next eight bars, Morris attacked her long time world record goals. After a miss, she collected herself and performed better at the following height.
Opting to pass after one miss at 4.76m/15-7 1/4, the 2016 U.S. indoor champion floated flawlessly over the next three bars. Morris would cap her fantastic year with an outdoor national record, Diamond League record, new world lead and of course, a personal best.
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The 2015 Arkansas alumna is one of only three women in the world to successfully vault a 16-foot bar. She now holds the second-best outdoor mark in the world in the history of the event.