Sandi Morris and Katerina Stefanidi pictured during last year’s NYRR Millrose Games. The two will renew their rivalry in the 111^th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center on February 3. Photos by John Nepolitan

The Rio Olympic gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi of Greece and USA’s silver medalist Sandi Morris will renew their rivalry in a who’s who of pole vaulters at the 111th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center in New York on February 3, 2018.

Four of the top seven vaulters in the world will be competing, in the John and Margo Catsimatidis Women’s Pole Vault with the inclusion of Katie Nageotte of the United States and Alysha Newman of Canada. Added in the mix is World indoor record holder and former Olympic champion Jenn Suhr.

Katerina Stefanidi and Sandi Morris were recently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the world for 2017 by Track & Field News, and have one of the strongest and most current rivalries in the sport.

Six months after Stefanidi narrowly defeated Morris at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the two great rivals were first and second in 2017 in both the NYRR Millrose Games and in the World Track and Field Championships in London. Stefanidi took the top spot in both events. They’ll return to the John and Margo Catsimatidis Women’s Pole Vault event at the 2018 NYRR Millrose Games.

The Greek national champion and Greek record-holder Stefanidi set her indoor personal best of 16-0 ¾ in 2016 at the NYRR Millrose Games, where she is now a three-time champion. "2018 will mark my fifth Millrose Games,” Stefanidi said. “I have won three consecutive years and can't wait to get back to New York City and The Armory runway."

She secured the gold at last summer’s World Championships in London with a 16-1 ¼ jump that means she’s in a tie for the fourth best performer in history.

Morris has jumped higher than her Greek rival, having cleared 16-4 ¾ (or 5.00m) outdoors as well as 16-2 ¾ indoors in 2016, and is the third best all time. 

“I am very excited to come back to NYC to compete at Millrose again,” Morris said. “I have yet to have the honor of winning the competition, and I hope to change that as 2018 is all about jumping high and winning meets. I am feeling strong and can’t wait to come to New York to put on a show with my fellow competitors!”

The U.S. outdoor record-holder and indoor and outdoor champion, Morris took silver ahead of Stefanidi’s bronze at the World Indoor Championships in 2016.

Katie Nageotte jumped 15-6 ¼ in 2017 after placing third at the NYRR Millrose Games and taking silver at the USATF Indoor Championships. She was ranked sixth among female pole vaulters by Track and Field News, and on Christmas Day (@ktnago13) tweeted “…BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER RANKED #6 IN THE WORLD!!!!”

Alysha Newman was ranked seventh for the year, in which she set a 15-7 personal best. The reigning Canadian champion and national record-holder represented her nation at the last Olympics and World Championships, and was fourth at the NYRR Millrose Games in 2017.

Jenn Suhr captured the 2012 London Olympic gold medal and also won the silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2016, Suhr established the indoor world record with a jump of 16-6 (5.03m).

“It is only fitting that the Upper Manhattan neighborhood near where the Catsimatidis family settled from Greece, would reach to new heights with this exciting competition,” said Margo Catsimatidis.

“Our family is so proud to support the historic NYRR Millrose Games and welcome world champions to NYC,” said John Catsimatidis.

Go to NYRRMillroseGames.org to learn more about the NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets to the Saturday, February 3, 2018 meet.