Moll, representing Capital High in Washington, leads three athletes in the top four, as club has produced five 14-footers in past three years; Stakun-Pickering and Kazmaier become first prep decathletes to both surpass 7,300 points since 2014, with Beckmon achieving Oregon long jump state record to secure crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Becky Holbrook

EUGENE, Ore. – The best collection of girls high school pole vaulters in one club in the country only got stronger Thursday, with the showdown involving the top U.S. boys prep competitors also living up to the expectations at The Outdoor Nationals, Presented by Nike.

The most impressive high school decathlon showdown since 2014 captivated the audience at Hayward Field, with the outcome producing three athletes surpassing 7,000 points and two of the top 20 performers in U.S. prep history.

And Sophia Beckmon created another memorable moment for the local spectators, with the Oregon City sophomore achieving the best wind-legal long jump in state history.

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Following a celebration of elite throwers Wednesday, the jumpers and vaulters enjoyed the spotlight Thursday, in addition to national champions being crowned in both the 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays.

Beckmon, representing Inner Circle Track Club, elevated from sixth place on her final jump to secure the title with a lifetime-best 19 feet, 0.25 inches (6.05m), surpassing the 1987 wind-legal performance of 19-10 (6.04m) achieved by Michelle Reynolds of Churchill.

Jahnelle Saunders of Bethel High in Virginia, representing Aerial Supreme, led with a 19-8 (5.99m) effort from the second round until Beckmon’s heroics on her final opportunity.

Only two long jumpers in Oregon high school history have produced better all-conditions marks, with Reynolds and Karen Alcorn of Oregon City jumping wind-aided efforts of 20-0.25 (6.10m) and 20 feet (6.09m) in different classifications at the same state meet in 1988.

Beckmon became the first Oregon female long jumper to win a national outdoor title, one day after Summit’s Kohana Nakato achieved the same feat in the javelin with a lifetime-best 169-1 (51.55m).

Hana Moll, a sophomore at Capital High in Washington, cleared a personal-best 14-4 (4.37m) on her first attempt to win the girls pole vault championship, with teammate Allison Neiders of Holy Names Academy in Washington achieving a 14-foot clearance (4.27m) for the first time to place second.

Neiders became the fifth athlete at Northwest Pole Vault Club under coach Tim Reilly in the past three years to produce a 14-foot clearance, an unparalleled showcase of depth by any group in prep history.

Chloe Cunliffe of West Seattle, the 2019 national outdoor champion and all-time high school indoor performer at 14-9 (4.50m), has been joined by Lianne Kistler of Ballard Community in Washington, along with freshman and sophomore class national record holder Amanda Moll of Capital, in addition to Hana Moll and Neiders.

Amanda Moll was fourth Thursday at 13-8.25 (4.17m), a mark also achieved by Kenna Stimmel of Margaretta High in Ohio, who finished third on fewer attempts.

Paige Sommers of Westlake High in California, the national high school outdoor record holder at 14-9, struggled in her return to Hayward Field. After recording a no height at 14-1.25 (4.30m) at the Olympic Trials, Sommers only cleared 12-7.50 (3.85m) to tie for 12th place overall.

Clayton Simms of Live Oak High, representing Louisiana Pole Vault Club and a Kansas signee, was chasing Stanford-bound Garrett Brown of La Costa Canyon High in California the entire competition. But Simms came through with a first-attempt clearance at 17 feet (5.18m) and following six straight clearances, including 16-8 (5.08m), Brown was unable to extend the competition.

Maxwell Stakun-Pickering of Wellesley High in Massachusetts rallied from a 50-point deficit in the decathlon following the javelin competition to run 4:40.10 in the 1,500 meters and produce a lifetime-best 7,344 points for the No. 15 all-time prep competitor.

Bryce Kazmaier of Francis Howell High in Missouri, a North Carolina signee, grabbed the advantage by throwing 209-11 (63.98m) in the javelin – a mark that would have won the national title in the event Wednesday and the No. 3 performance in high school decathlon history – and finished with 7,305 points to ascend to the No. 16 performer.

It marked the first time since 2014 with Harrison Williams of Memphis University School in Tennessee and Gabe Moore of Freeport High in Florida at the USATF Under-20 Championships that two high school athletes both surpassed 7,300 points.

Jordan Fink of North Oconee High in Georgia took third with 7,013 points.

Floyd Whitaker of Highland Regional in New Jersey just missed a 50-foot effort in the boys triple jump final, winning the title with a 49-11.75 (15.23m) in the second attempt.

Solomon Washington of Stony Point High in Texas took runner-up at 49-9.75 (15.18m).

Julian Collins of Hewitt Trussville High in Alabama, signed with the Crimson Tide, relied on a first-round leap of 24-1 (7.34m) to capture the boys long jump championship.

Elisha Teneus-Claude of Stoughton High in Massachusetts jumped 23-10.75 (7.28m) to place second.

Kason O’Riley of Marble Falls High in Texas cleared a personal-best 7-0.25 (2.14m) on his third attempt to win the boys high jump crown, holding off three athletes at 6-10.25 (2.09m).

Kayla Pinkard of Carrollton High in Georgia produced a second-round performance of a lifetime-best 42-6 (12.95m) in the girls triple jump final to earn the championship.

Rieko Wilford of Curtis Senior High in Washington, representing Alpha Speed Academy and signed with Purdue, also produced a personal-best with a mark of 41-0.50 (12.51m).

Cheyla Scott, a sophomore at Julius L. Chambers High in North Carolina, won the girls high jump title with a first-attempt clearance at 5-8.50 (1.74m), the same height cleared by the top five athletes in the field. Scott was clean the entire night until she missed three tries at 5-10.50 (1.79m).

Ariel Pedigo of Parkview Baptist in Louisiana was second and DeShanae Norman of Gladstone High in Oregon took third, in addition to placing eighth in the long jump at 18-10.50 (5.75m).

Real Training Track Club, featuring athletes from Niwot High in Colorado, won the girls 4x400 relay in a national-leading 3:42.72, the second-fastest time in state history. Taylor James anchored in 53.76 for Real Training, with the lineup also including Kimora Northrup, Madison Shults and Stella Vieth.

Motor City Track Club, featuring athletes from Oak Park High in Michigan, was second in 3:43.62 and Clovis North took third in a California-leading 3:47.68.

Track Life Track Club, including competitors Olivia Jackson, Leeah Burr, Jayla Graham and Kaila Jackson from Detroit Renaissance in Michigan, secured victory in the girls 4x200 in 1:39.58.

New York produced champions in the boys 4x200 and 4x400.

Newburgh Elite Track Club followed its win Wednesday in the 1,000-meter Swedish relay by capturing the 4x400 title in 3:17.59. Jean Origene, John Fermpong, Esteban Lopez and James Onwuka achieved the victory for the group representing Newburgh Free Academy.

Cardinal Hayes was victorious in the boys 4x200 in 1:26.36, with Travis Williams, Tavon Williams, Jaden Barrett and Jaavier Jackson helping Section 9 in New York earn two national titles in the same day.