Morris returns to Reno for indoor opener

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Reigning IAAF World Outdoor Championship and Olympic pole vault silver medalist Sandi Morris is scheduled to headline the global elite competition Jan. 12 at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

Morris, who captured U.S. indoor and outdoor national titles last year, is seeking a third consecutive victory in the women's elite event. She cleared 15-5.50 (4.71m) to win in 2016 and 15-3 (4.65m) last year.

World champions Katerina Stefanidi of Greece and American Sam Kendricks are expected to attend the three-day event, but won't participate in the competition.

Stefanidi won the elite competition in Reno in 2015 and took second to Morris in 2016. Kendricks was third in 2016 and runner-up in 2015.

Armand Duplantis, a senior from Lafayette LA and the national high school indoor and outdoor record holder, is entered in the men's elite field. Duplantis won the high school boys competition in 2016 by clearing 17-6 (5.33m), but missed last year's event because of his brother's wedding.

Duplantis also set the World U20 indoor record last year by clearing 19-0.50 (5.82m) and also established a new World U20 outdoor standard with a 19-4.25 (5.90m) clearance.

American Mike Arnold needed only to clear 18-2.50 (5.55m) to capture the men's elite title last year after Canadian Shawn Barber won with a 19-8.25 (6.00m) clearance in 2016.

Arnold returns for the elite competition, along with fellow Americans Scott Houston, Jake Blankenship, Logan Cunningham, Chase Brannon, Chris Pillow, John Prader, Garrett Starkey and Adam Bragg, in addition to Division 1 college seniors Devin King of Southeastern Louisiana and Tray Oates of Samford.

Joining Morris in the women's elite event are fellow Americans Katie Nageotte, Mary Saxer, Kristen Brown, Megan Clark, Kristen Hixson, Morgann Leleux, Annie Rhodes, Jill Marois and last year's NCAA indoor champion Lakan Taylor of Alabama. Anicka Newell, the No. 2 performer last year in Canada, is also expected to vault.

The annual National Pole Vault Summit Hall of Fame ceremony Jan. 11 will induct honorees Dick Railsback, the 1968 U.S. national champion, along with 1960 Polish Olympian Andrzej Krzesinski, who also coached American standouts Tim Bright and Kory Tarpening. Elaine Fraley, wife of event founder and this year's keynote speaker Bob Fraley, will also be inducted.