American record holder Brad Walker (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) only needed one attempt to secure his place in the final of the men’s pole vault. Walker entered competition at 5.55m/18-2.5 and succeeded on his first attempt. Jack Whitt (Norman, Okla.) and Jeremy Scott (Brookland, Ark.) both cleared 5.40m/17-8.5. Whit took two attempts at 5.40m, while Scott sailed over on his first attempt, but neither was unable to clear the next progression of the bar to advance to the final.
Brad Walker, men’s pole vault qualification
“One jump was all it took. I had a pretty good feel for the runway. It seems like a fast track. I really didn’t get a chance to get into a real groove in the competition. I think that if we had kept jumping, my steps would have moved back. It’s a great stadium; I like how it’s built up around the top to keep the wind out.”
Jack Whitt, men’s pole vault qualification
“I wish I would’ve done better. I was having a hard time getting elevated on the bars that really mattered. I’m not very happy with how I jumped. I am glad that I came in. It’s my first major championship and was able to at least make a few bars. “
Jeremy Scott, men’s pole vault qualification
“It seems like the prelims are so hard, especially early in the morning. I think I just got a little conservative out there with our adjustments and changing poles and everything. It came back and bit me in the end. I thought for sure I was going to be able to jump. Going in, I thought it was going to take 5.65 and I was confident that I was going to be able to jump that. I was really disappointed not to be able to make one bar less. Something that when you look at the numbers is really a pretty easy final to make.” more
