SAN JOSE (July 20) — USA’s teenage pole vaulter, Hana Moll, will aim to clear the qualifying standard for the world track and field championships at the 2023 NACAC U23 and U18 Championships in San José, Costa Rica, from July 21-23.
Moll recently achieved a personal best and high school national record clearance of 4.61 meters, finishing third behind world and Olympic champion Katie Moon and three-time world silver medalist Sandi Morris at the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships earlier this month.
Read more: Will Sumner leads 800m field at NACAC U23 Championships 2023
However, the 18-year-old, who recently graduated from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington, has yet to meet the qualifying standard of 4.71m required to secure a spot in the world championships. Nonetheless, she remains hopeful of a strong performance that could officially guarantee her place on the team heading to Budapest in August.
NACAC U23 Championships Pole Vault Field
| Athlete Name | Country | PB |
|---|---|---|
| Heather Abadie | Canada | 4.35m |
| Vielka Paola Arias Mora | Costa Rica | 3.55m |
| Andrea Paola Machuca Gochez | El Salvador | 3.60m |
| Hana Moll | United States | 4.61m |
| Sydney Horn | United States | 4.50m |
Moll, the World U20 champion in 2022, has shown consistent improvement throughout the season and currently shares the joint 17th place in the women’s pole vault top list.
In the World Pole Vault Rankings, the American teenager currently holds the 33rd overall position with 1154 points.
Despite the challenge of meeting the 4.71m qualifying standard, those close to Moll are optimistic that she still has a strong chance of earning a spot on the USA team for the world championships, based on her current standings.
The official announcement of the team representing the USA in Budapest will be made by USATF on August 5, just two weeks prior to the global event.
Meanwhile, Sydney Horn, who was fifth at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, in June, and seventh at the USATF Outdoor Championships, will also lineup for Team USA Hana Moll in the women’s pole vault at the 2023 NACAC U23 and U18 Championships.
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