Suhr Does Not Clear a Height in Women's Pole Vault, Christian Coleman Runs Second Fastest 100-Meter Time

By Adam Kopet

Competing in the same stadium where she jumped to 2012 Olympic gold in the women's pole vault, Jenn Suhr failed to qualify for the final Friday at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

Suhr did not enter to the competition until 14-11 (4.55m), the fourth height of the day, but she failed on all three of her attempts, ending her championships.

"It's three no jumps," Suhr said after the competition. "I thought I made the first one but it just nicked off so that was disappointing."

Suhr's failure came a year after illness kept her off the Olympic podium in Rio last year.

Sandi Morris kept a clean card and qualified for the final with her clearance of 14-11. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi of Greece led all qualifiers at 15-1 (4.60m).

The American men had no trouble qualifying through the first round of competition Friday, led by world-leader Christian Coleman. He had the second-best time of the day, 10.01, behind Jamaica's Julian Forte, who ran a personal-best 9.99.

"I have a lot of confidence moving forward as that was a great race," Coleman said. "I was just focusing on my lane and getting the job done."

Justin Gatlin won his heat easily in 10.05 and Christopher Belcher finished third in his heat to qualify for the semifinals with a time of 10.13.

In the men's long jump, Jarrion Lawson will be the only Team USATF athlete in the final, after both Marquis Dendy and Jeff Henderson failed to qualify. Henderson won the Olympic long jump last year by one centimeter.

The women's 1,500 saw all three Americans advance. Jenny Simpson finished second in her heat. Both Kate Grace and Sara Vaughn qualified on time, Vaughn in a personal-best 4:04.56.

In the throws, Mason Finley finished sixth in men's discus qualifying, advancing to the final with a throw of 212-5 (64.76m).