by Stuart Weir
Women’s Pole vault, Sandi Morris, photo by Martin Bateman
Katie Nageotte, photo by Martin Bateman
Holly Bradshaw, photo by Martin Bateman
The women’s pole vault is a popular event around the world. I have enjoyed the women’s pole vault, indoor and out, at the Muller meetings, and before that, the AVIVA meetings in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Women’s Pole-vault
The women’s pole vault is regularly held as part of the Birmingham Diamond League. In the past, the wind has been a factor with the gaps between the stands an ideal place for the wind to hide until the vaulter is on the runway! The pole vault took place on the back straight in the old stadium. In 2019, the bar had to be held on with string to stop it from falling off, potentially on the vaulter.
Sandi Morris, photo by Martin Bateman
In the new stadium, the gaps between stands have been closed and the pole vault has now moved at right-angles, across the infield. Any vaulters I spoke to told me that the arrangements were definitely better.
Holly Bradshaw, photo by Martin Bateman
The field assembled was an exciting one, with five vaulters who had a PR of 4.80 or better, and 4 of the 4.90 jumpers. There was:
Katie Nageotte-2021 Olympic champion
Katarina Stefanidi-World and Olympic gold-medalist
Sandi Morris-2018 and 2022 World Indoor champion
Holly Bradshaw-2021 Olympic bronze medalist
The Olympic silver-medalist, Anzhelika Sidorova, is banned from competitions because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The competition was full of shocks with Holly Bradshaw skipping the opening height but failing three times at 4.45. Nageotte needed two attempts at 4.30 but then failed at 4.45. The two Tokyo medalists were out at a height they would normally take easily.
Katie Nageotte, photo by Martin Bateman
Bradshaw, disappointed for the large home crowd, was honest as always: “No height isn’t what anyone wants. However, as my preparation has been challenged, it isn’t fully unexpected and undeserving. I don’t feel I have yet gained enough full approach confidence/experience and today I was exposed-not quite ready for the instability a competitive environment gives”. She is a fighter and she will be back with a vengeance.
As the competition progressed, three more vaulters exited at 4.55 leaving only Stefanidi, Tina Sutej and Sandi Morris. It took nine vaults at 4.73 to find a successful one-by Sandi Morris.
Morris told me afterward: “England has always been good to me. I came here wanting to kick off my season well. The weather is always a toss-up here but today it turned out very nice. I was a little shaky in warm-ups so very happy to slot my way through it. On the runway, I was just focusing on completing my jump and I am very happy with how I put it together today.
“I was pleased to win as it is always hard to come and perform 48 hours after getting off the plane but is all part of the job. We have to shake it off and get going. It took me a couple of rounds to get my rhythm going but I kept going and focused on the execution of each jump and I knew if I could get a good take-off then I could get through. After two or three rounds I was feeling confident. “In terms of win, I would say that today was definitely better than historically.
Today you could be patient and wait for it and there would be a tailwind or be dead. For me, the temperatures are the bigger issue. I train in Georgia where it’s already hot. Last week, it was 90 degrees and we were training in that heat so to come here where it was a lot colder as well as dealing with the time difference is the hard part.”
Women’s pole vaulters in Birmingham, photo by Martin Bateman
Stefanidi said: ” I am happy with my performance as I am gradually getting back my rhythm. Today, I felt had it then lost it but got it back which is good to know. I am progressing well and early in the season that is the most important thing. I am getting more confident. The hold on the poles is getting better.”
Sandi Morris, photo by Martin Bateman
Stefanidi too commented on the wind: “The wind was a little switchy-it was the changing wind rather than how strong it was. But it is definitely better than it used to be in this stadium now there are two full stands to protect us.” Morris is well-known as a keeper of snakes, monitor lizards, and other creatures. Stadium announcer, Geoff Wightman was heard telling the crowd she was gripping her pole like an anaconda! Morris saw the funny side, telling me: “I thought it was funny. My reptiles are part of my brand and I think it’s fun to share it with people. I appreciate his efforts to make it more personal.”
