RENO, Nev. — American vaulters swept both elite competitions at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit 2026 on Friday and Saturday at the Reno Livestock Events Center, with Zachery Bradford and Molly Haywood claiming victories in their respective events.
In the men’s competition, Bradford, a former World U20 Championships and NACAC U23 Championships silver medalist, cleared 5.90 meters to match the world-leading mark and shared top honors with American record holder KC Lightfoot, who also achieved the same height.
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The U.S. pair finished ahead of France’s Thibaut Collet, who took third at 5.80m. Collet, a consistent performer on the world stage, finished fifth at both the Tokyo 2025 and Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships and earned bronze at the 2023 European Team Championships.
In the women’s competition, Haywood, the 2024 World U20 Championships gold medalist, won with a clearance of 4.60m, the third-best mark in the world this year and just shy of her 4.61m best.
American compatriot Sydney Horn, the 2023 NACAC U23 Championships champion, finished second at 4.50m, while 2024 NCAA outdoor champion Chloe Timberg tied for third at 4.40m alongside Canada’s Anicka Newell and Italy’s Virginia Scardanzan.
The annual meet featured several American and global pole vaulters in a close area for both the jumpers and supporters, with action going on all the time and music and commentary adding to the excitement.
UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit 2026 Results
Elite Event – Men’s Pole Vault Final
- Zachery Bradford, USA, 5.90m
- KC Lightfoot, USA, 5.90m
- Thibaut Collet, France, 5.80m
- Olen Tray Oates, USA, 5.70m
- Colby Wilson, USA, 5.70m
- Sam Kendricks, USA, 5.60m
- Keaton Daniel, USA, 5.60m
- Carson Cody Waters, USA, 5.60m
- Bradley Jelmert, USA, 5.60m
- Nate Richartz, USA, 5.60m
- Logan Hammer, USA, 5.60m
- Matt Ludwig, USA, 5.50m
- Hunter Garretson, USA, 5.50m
- Cole Walsh, USA, 5.35m
- Trevor Stephenson, USA, 5.35m
- Max Manson, USA, 5.35m
- Jaxon Jerabek, USA, 5.20m
- Kobe Babin, USA, 5.20m
- Clayton Simms, USA, 5.20m
— Randon Gray, USA, no mark — Alioune Sene, France, no mark — Scott Toney, USA, no mark
Elite Event – Women’s Pole Vault Final
- Molly Haywood, USA, 4.60m
- Sydney Horn, USA, 4.50m
- Chloe Timberg, USA, 4.40m
- Anicka Newell, Canada, 4.40m
- Virginia Scardanzan, Italy, 4.40m
- Lexi Evans, USA, 4.40m
- Payton Phillips, USA, 4.40m
- Natalie Lark, USA, 4.40m
- Tori Thomas, USA, 4.40m
- Jill Marois, USA, 4.30m
- Heather Abadie, Canada, 4.30m
- Tatum Moku, USA, 4.30m
- Kaitlyn Dermen, USA, 4.15m
— Nastassja Campbell, USA, no mark — Erika Fiedler, Canada, no mark — Eva Lowder, USA, no mark
