Stefanidi to vault in Reno for first time since 2016 to headline USA vs. The World women’s elite event, Duplantis leads international roster in men’s showcase that also includes Barber, Guttormsen

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it’s the return of 2016 Olympic gold medalist and 2017 IAAF World Outdoor champion Katerina Stefanidi in the USA vs. The World women’s event or reigning World U-20 Outdoor winner and European Outdoor gold medalist Armand “Mondo” Duplantis in the men’s international showcase, this year’s UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit has the potential to be one of the most memorable in recent history.

Stefanidi, who has attended the event as a speaker and mentor but not vaulted the past two years, will return to action Friday during the global elite competition, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. PST at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

The Greek star and Stanford graduate competed at the annual event from 2013-16, winning in 2015 and tying with American Sandi Morris with a 15-5.50 (4.71m) clearance the following year, but taking second based on attempts.

Morris, who won last year’s competition with a 16-0.75 (4.90m) clearance, will attend this year’s event, but won’t vault as she is still recovering from ankle surgery in the fall.

Another highlight of Friday’s global elite competition will be the USA vs. The World men’s showcase.

Leading the world team will be Pole Vault Summit veteran Duplantis, an LSU freshman representing Sweden.

Duplantis cleared 19-1.50 (5.83m) at last year’s event to win the men’s competition as a senior at Lafayette High in Louisiana. He went on to clear a World U-20 record 19-10.25 (6.05m) to win gold Aug. 12 in Berlin at the European Championships.

Joining Duplantis on the international team will be 2015 World champion Shawn Barber of Canada, UCLA freshman Sondre Guttormsen – the Norwegian national record holder – along with Japanese indoor record holder Seito Yamamoto.

The Americans will be led by reigning USATF Indoor champion Scott Houston, along with Nate Richartz, Andrew Irwin, Cole Walsh, Matthew Ludwig and Devin King, runner-up to Duplantis at last year’s event.

In addition to Stefanidi, the women’s international roster will include Commonwealth Games gold medalist Alysha Newman of Canada, LSU sophomore and World U-20 silver medalist representing Sweden Lisa Gunnarsson and China’s Huiqin Xu.

Leading the American women’s roster will be defending USATF Indoor champion Katie Nageotte, along with Emily Grove, Kristen Hixson, Morgann LeLeux Romero, Annie Rhodes Johnigan and Lexi Jacobus, an Arkansas senior and three-time NCAA Division 1 champion.

There will be additional men’s and women’s elite competitors vaulting on adjacent pits Friday, along with high school and collegiate competition Saturday at the Reno Livestock Events Center.