2018 Des Moines Diary: Sandi Morris, 4.80m, Reggie Jagers, 68.61m!

DES MOINES (USA, Jun 24): On the final day of the USATF Championships, world indoor champion Sandi Morris cleared 4.80m to win the pole vault title ahead of Katie Nageotte (4.70m) and former Olympic champion Jenn Suhr (4.60m). Jeron Robinson cleared 2.31m in the high jump to beat Erik Kynard (2.28m) and Olympic champion Jeff Henderson won the long jump with 8.10m. There were two competitive throwing event finals with all-rounder Maggie Ewen winning the shot put with 19.29m from Jessica Ramsey (19.23m) and Raven Saunders (18.74m) with Olympic champion Michelle Carter sixth with 18.01m and little-known Reggie Jagers improved his PB from 65.79m to 68.61m to win the discus from world bronze medallist Mason Finley (67.06m). After running 22.22 in the semifinals, Jenna Prandini won the 200m final in 22.62 from world 400m champion Phyllis Francis in 22.83 (22.42 in the semifinal) and Ameer Webb was a comfortable winner of the men’s 200m title in 20.47 (20.13 in the semifinal) from Terrell Smith in 20.74. After running 20.35 in the semifinal, world-leader in the 400m Mike Norman was a DNS in the final. Shamier Little clocked a fast 53.61 to win the women’s 400m title from Georganne Moline in 54.12 and Devon Allen won the 110m hurdles title from Grant Holloway by 0.002 (13.452 to 13.454) with Jarrett Eaton (13.51) and Aries Merritt (13.52) third and fourth respectively. Elsewhere, Shelby Houlihan completed a 1500/5000m double, winning the 5000m in 15:31.03 and Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo won the men’s 5000m title in 13:29.47. There were 800m titles for Ajee Wilson (1:58.18) and Clayton Murphy (1:46.50) and Evan Jager won the steeplechase title as expected in 8:20.10. Erica Bougard also scored 6347 points to win the heptathlon title by more than 300 points. Across the championships, there was one American record (women’s hammer), three world leads (men’s 100m, women’s 20,000m walk and women’s hammer), two USATF Championship records (women’s triple jump, women’s 20,000m race walk) and 14 Drake Stadium records. Last day was marred by rain.