Former Coyote Chris Nilsen defends U.S. pole vaulting title

Matt Zimmer, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read
Chris Nilsen reacts after an attempt in the men's pole vault final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo.
Chris Nilsen reacts after an attempt in the men's pole vault final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo.
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Former USD Coyote track and field star Chris Nilsen is still the best in the U.S.

The 2020 South Dakota graduate defended his U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships pole vaulting title on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon, with a leap of 18-8.25 on his first attempt, securing the men’s title for the second straight season.

A three-time NCAA Champion for the Coyotes, Nilsen took home the silver medal at the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics last summer and followed up with a bronze at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in March. He vaulted an outdoor best of 19-8 ¼ (6.00m) back home in Vermillion at the USD Twilight in May, but also owns the American Indoor Record of 19-10 ¼ (6.05m) from the Perche Elite Tour in France this past March.

More: Watch Coyotes alum Chris Nilsen eclipse 6 meters competing at University of South Dakota

The finish qualifies Nilsen to represent the United States at the 2022 World Athletics Championships to be hosted by the United States for the first time this summer. The World Championships are set for July 15-24 at Hayward Field in Eugene. Men's pole vault will consist of a qualification round on July 22, followed by the finals on July 24. Nilsen is ranked No. 2 in the world behind Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis headed into the meet.

Two other former Coyotes competed in the championships. Emily Grove, a 2017 USD grad, placed fifth with a clearance of 15-1 in the women's pole vault. Her top finish at the U.S. Championships was third in 2017, qualifying for the 2017 World Championships in London, England. Grove vaulted a personal best of 15-7 two weeks ago in Chula Vista, California.

Lara Boman competed in the women's hammer throw, placing 15th in the field with a throw of 214-0 (65.23m) on her third and final attempt. Since graduating in 2019, Boman has placed in the top-10 of the U.S. Indoor or Outdoor Championships three times, highlighted by a third-place finish in the weight throw at the 2022 U.S. Indoor Championships. Boman launched the hammer a personal best 232-11 at the Wildcat Classic in March of this year.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Former Coyote Chris Nilsen defends U.S. pole vaulting title