Pole Vault Competitions Set To Reach New Heights at Capital Square and Drake Stadium

DES MOINES, Iowa - Reigning champions Sam Kendricks and Sandi Morris will defend their Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee titles in the pole vault this April inside Drake Stadium. The pair are part of a tremendous pole vault field assembled for the upcoming 2019 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee, Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays, announced Monday, April 8.

In addition to the competitors for the in-stadium competition April 27, Boldon also unveiled the competitors for the ever-popular Pole Vault at Capital Square event staged April 25.

That one-of-a-kind event features Andrew Irwin, the 2019 USA Indoor national champion, Devin King, Austin Miller, Cole Walsh and Nate Richartz in the men’s field. All five of those men have cleared 18-7 or better in their careers.

The women’s Capital Square Vault event includes Kortney Ross and Kristen Leland who were sixth and seventh at last year’s Drake Relays. Annie Jonnigan, Emily Grove and Sydney Walter are all Relays’ regulars who will be making their Capital Square Vault debuts.

Inside the stadium, Kendricks, the two-time defending Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee champion headlines the men’s field in the stadium as the seven-time USA Champion in the event with a lifetime best of 19-8.25 (6.00m). The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, Kendricks was also the 2017 World Champion and Diamond League champion in the event.

Kendricks will be challenged again by Chris Nilsen, who has finished second in each of the last two Drake Relays and was a five-time All-American and NCAA Champion at South Dakota. Jeff Coover and Luke Winder will also join the field as will the members of the Capital Square Vault competition.

Morris makes her return to Drake Stadium in an attempt to become the event’s second four-time champion in Drake Relays history. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist, Morris is a four-time USA Champion and the American record holder in the event at 16-4.75 (5.0m). Last year, Morris set the Drake Relays record in the event at 16-0 (4.88m). Her fellow in-stadium competitors include Megan Zimlich, Megan Clark, Katherine Pitman the Capital Square Vault competitors.

Monday’s announcement begins a flurry of Boldon unveiling more world-class fields over the coming days and weeks. Visit DrakeRelays.org or follow @DrakeRelays on Twitter for a planned announcement every Monday, Wednesday and Friday leading up to Relays Week.

Relays Week competitions begin Tuesday, April 23, with the Grand Blue Mile on the streets of downtown Des Moines. The heptathlon and decathlon get underway in Drake Stadium Wednesday, April 24, followed by the annual Cap Square Vault. Multi-events conclude Thursday, March 25, at Drake Stadium followed by the annual Distance Carnival. Action continues all day Friday and Saturday at Drake Stadium.

All-session, multi-session and single-session tickets for all of the action are available via DrakeTix.com, 515-271-3647 or visiting the Drake Athletic Ticket Office.