Nageotte secures first career indoor pole vault victory against Stefanidi, Ewen prevails for first time in shot put against Schwanitz in elite field event matchups in Boston

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

BOSTON – There were only a pair of field events on the schedule Saturday for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, however both showcased significant results for American female athletes, who not only produced world-leading marks, but beat elite international challengers in the process at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College.

Katie Nageotte, the reigning USATF Indoor pole vault champion, prevailed against Greece’s Katerina Stefanidi for the first time in 11 all-time indoor meetings and Maggie Ewen – the defending U.S. outdoor shot put champ – not only unleashed a career-best indoor mark in her season opener, but secured her first victory against German star Christina Schwanitz at the first meet of this year’s IAAF World Indoor Tour.

RESULTS | KATIE NAGEOTTE INTERVIEW | MAGGIE EWEN INTERVIEW

Nageotte was clean on her first five attempts, including at the winning height of 15-11.25 (4.86m), and just missed on her final try at a potential career-best 16-1.75 (4.92m) to hand Stefanidi, the reigning Olympic and World gold medalist, her first indoor loss in the U.S. since 2016.

“This felt really good. It felt like I was really putting together the things we’ve been working on,” said Nageotte, who cleared at least 15-11.25 indoors for the third time in her career.

“It’s a great place to jump, so I was just excited to come in here and keep that momentum going from last week. I feel like having those attempts at 4.86m last week kind of prepped me for it this week. I knew I could jump that bar.”

Stefanidi cleared 15-5.50 (4.71m) on her first attempt to keep pace with Nageotte, but after missing on her first try at 15-9.25 (4.81m), she was forced to pass to 15-11.25, where she wasn’t able to clear the bar on her final two opportunities. American Annie Rhodes-Johnigan was third with a personal-best 15-1.50 (4.61m).

Stefanidi and Nageotte had both cleared 15-6.50 (4.74m) in the USA vs. The World elite competition Jan. 18 at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, before they each missed on three opportunities at 15-11.25. But Stefanidi prevailed based on first-attempt clearances at the two earlier heights, with Nageotte needing three tries to clear 14-11.50 (4.56m).

It marked the second time in Nageotte’s indoor career she had cleared the same height as Stefanidi, but was edged based on fewer misses.

“As a pole vaulter, your goal is first attempts, so it definitely gives you a confidence boost and it gives you more energy going to the next height,” Nageotte said. “First attempts are clutch and so I’m really happy I was able to keep my cool, keep relaxed and keep it really consistent throughout the whole meet.”

Ewen took the lead over Schwanitz following the first round and never relinquished control, delivering a second-round effort of 63-3.25 (19.28m) to elevate to the No. 6 American all-time indoor performer.

Schwanitz, who competed Friday in Germany before arriving Saturday morning in Boston, took second with a first-round mark of 61-11 (18.87m) and American Jessica Ramsey placed third at 59-9.50 (18.22m).

“It felt really good. I honestly wasn’t expecting to open up this well and it was one of those weird throws where you let it go and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ It’s really nice to have that feeling, especially with how I was feeling coming into the meet,” Ewen said. “Fall training was really good with cleaning up a lot of things with my technique and I think the big thing now is I feel much more comfortable competing at this level. I feel like I’m not the new kid on the block anymore, I feel like, ‘OK, I belong here and this is where I’m supposed to be.’”