Lightfoot achieves 19-4.25 (5.90m) effort, with Williams clearing 15-4.25 (4.68m), as indoor showcase during Drake Relays week returns to largest shopping complex in Iowa for first time in a decade

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES, Iowa – The return Monday of the indoor pole vault at Jordan Creek Town Center for the first time in a decade also featured a pair of American standouts returning to the top of the competition.

Kicking off the week of “America’s Athletic Classic” – the 114th Drake Relays Presented by Xtream and Powered by Mediacom – it was U.S. athletes KC Lightfoot and Bridget Williams winning the men’s and women’s competitions inside the largest shopping complex in the state of Iowa.

RESULTS

Lightfoot, representing PUMA, made 19 feet, 4.25 inches (5.90m) on his first try and had three opportunities to achieve his second 6-meter clearance of the year, but was unsuccessful attempting 19-8.25.

Williams, competing for Team ESSX, cleared 15-4.25 (4.68m) on her first attempt after needing three tries to make 15-0.25 (4.58m), but was able to outlast fellow American competitor and PUMA athlete Gabriela Leon, who held a temporary lead after being successful at 15-0.25 on her first opportunity.

The last time the indoor pole vault showcase was held at Jordan Creek Town Center in 2014, it was French star Renaud Lavillenie winning the men’s competition and Cuban standout Yarisley Silva prevailing in the women’s field.

Lightfoot, the American record holder with his 19-11 (6.07m) clearance in June at the Music City Track Carnival in Nashville, Tenn., was one of only three athletes globally during the winter indoor season to produce a 6-meter effort – achieving the feat Jan. 20 at Northwest Missouri in Maryville – joining fellow American competitor Chris Nilsen and world record-holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden.

Lightfoot also cleared 19-1 (5.82m) on his first attempt to triumph against Nike athlete Zach Bradford, who was victorious Saturday competing outdoors with an 18-9.25 (5.72m) performance at the 64th Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike in Walnut, Calif., before traveling to Des Moines.

Bradford was runner-up Monday night with a second-attempt clearance at 18-6.50 (5.65m), before missing three opportunities at 18-10.25 (5.75m).

Matt Ludwig and Cole Walsh both cleared 18-2.50 (5.55m), with Clayton Fritsch making only the opening height of 17-8.50 (5.40m).

The reigning Pan American Games gold medalist from November in Chile, Williams missed three attempts at 15-6.25 (4.73m), a height she had cleared on four occasions during the winter indoor season.

Williams was one of four athletes in the world to achieve a 15-10 (4.83m) indoor clearance this year, along with World indoor gold medalist Molly Caudery of Great Britain, Eliza McCartney from New Zealand and Canadian record-holder Alysha Newman.

Leon, the 2022 NCAA Division 1 outdoor champion at Louisville, was unable to match Williams after missing three tries Monday at 15-4.25.

Emily Grove, who had the opportunity Sunday to join Lightfoot in throwing out the first pitch at an Iowa Cubs Triple-A baseball game against the Louisville Bats, produced a third-attempt clearance at 14-8.25 (4.48m) to finish third overall.

Rachel Baxter, a former NCAA Division 1 indoor winner at Virginia Tech, cleared 14-2.50 (4.33m), along with Brynn King from Roberts Wesleyan in New York.

King, the reigning NCAA Division 2 indoor champion, is also the division’s indoor and outdoor record holder, along with the overall collegiate leader this year at 15-4.25.