Morris repeats as winner in Reno

Olympic silver medalist opens indoor season with 15-3 clearance; Local star Arnold prevails over Coover in men's elite showdown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Sandi Morris and Ekaterina Stefanidi began their indoor seasons last year by taking first and second in the women's global elite competition at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit and occupied the top two spots again seven months later, only with the roles reversed, at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Both athletes were in attendance again Friday at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, but only Morris was competing, as the silver medalist and American outdoor record holder cruised to victory in her indoor debut by clearing 15 feet, 3 inches (4.65m).

Morris ranks second overall in the world this year, trailing only Finland's Wilma Murto, who had a Jan. 6 clearance of 15-3.50 (4.66m) in France.

Stefanidi, who earned the first medal for a Greek women's pole vaulter when she captured gold in August, was content to be a spectator Friday, as she is focusing more on the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix and Muller Indoor Grand Prix as part of the IAAF World Indoor Tour in preparation for the European Indoor Championships in March.

Morris, Stefanidi and Mary Saxer all cleared 15-5.50 (4.71m) at last year's meet, with Morris prevailing on fewer misses overall. Saxer only cleared 14-1 (4.30m) on Friday.

With Katie Nageotte -- who opened her indoor season Jan. 7 by clearing 15-1 (4.60m) to secure a victory at the Akron Convention -- only clearing 14-7.25 (4.45m), Morris easily made 14-11 (4.55m) and 15-3 on her first attempts, before missing three tries at 15-9 (4.80m).

Alysha Newman joined Morris and Nageotte in the women's competiton as the only athletes to clear 14-11.

Mike Arnold, who attended Carson High less than 20 minutes from Reno before competing at Idaho State, won the men's global elite competition based on fewer overall misses after he and Jeff Coover both cleared 18-2.50 (5.55m).

Arnold, who moved this season to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, improved from a seventh-place finish with a 17-10.50 (5.45m) clearance last year.

Coover elevated from a sixth-place finish last year in the second tier men's elite competition with a 17-4.50 (5.30m) clearance.

Japanese star Seito Yamamoto, who took second at last year's meet with an 18-11 clearance (5.77m) to finish in between Canadian Shawn Barber and Olympic bronze medalist and U.S. champion Sam Kendricks, only managed Friday to clear 17-10.50. Kendricks and Barber, who won Jan. 7 at the Akron Convention by clearing 17-10.50, didn't compete in Reno this year.

Alex Bishop won the men's emerging elite competition with a 17-6.50 (5.35m) clearance.