Hana Moll Wins First NCAA Title In Pole Vault

2024 NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 7-9

Boston, Mass. | The TRACK At New Balance

Saturday Men | Saturday Women

Schedule of Huskies in action

Saturday

7:30am PT – Men’s Heptathlon 60m Hurdles – Bruno Comin Pescador

8:30am PT – Men’s Heptathlon Pole Vault – Bruno Comin Pescador

12:30pm PT – Men’s Heptathlon 1000m – Bruno Comin Pescador

1:00pm PT – Men’s Mile Final – Luke Houser, Joe Waskom

2:00pm PT – Men’s 3000m Final – Luke Houser

4:30pm PT – Women’s 800m Final – Wilma Nielsen 

BOSTON – Hana Moll couldn’t have come in to her first collegiate season with higher expectations, and she met and exceeded all of them. The American junior record-holder from Olympia, Wash. delivered her first collegiate national title with a nearly flawless performance, becoming the first freshman ever to win the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

 

Moll’s victory was the huge highlight for Washington on day two of the championships in Boston, at The TRACK At New Balance, but UW also got a stunning podium finish from Prestin Artis in the men’s long jump, while a trio of mid-distance runners moved into Saturday’s finals. Joe Waskom and Luke Houser (men’s mile) and Wilma Nielsen (women’s 800m) will chase championships tomorrow on the final day of the meet, along with Bruno Comin Pescador in the heptathlon.

 

All About Moll

Hana Moll was coming off a 2023 that saw her make Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, where she made the final and finished ninth in the world. She quickly became the top-ranked vaulter in the NCAA this indoor season when she cleared 15-2 ¾ back at the UW Invitational in January. Handling the pressure of being a freshman favorite, Moll went two bars higher than any other jumper today to secure the victory, making 15-feet, 1-inch.

 

It’s the first individual NCAA track and field title on the women’s side for the Dawgs since 2012, when Katie Flood won the outdoor 1,500-meters title. It’s just the second win all-time for the women in the pole vault, despite many more close calls over the years, as Kate Soma won the outdoor pole vault title back in 2005.

 

“It feels amazing. I came in really wanting to win and have a good time, and I accomplished both of those things, so I’m really happy with how I did today,” said Moll. “I was a little bit nervous for the collegiate transition, but I think what…