After Scaling A New PR, Hana Moll Bows Out At 15-1.75

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

SEATTLE – The buzz from Friday night’s historic men’s mile — that featured eight runners diving under 4 minutes — was still very much alive in Dempsey Indoor on Saturday afternoon during the final day of the Washington Indoor Invitational. 

“I was really inspired. I didn’t get to watch it, but I saw it on Instagram, the mile last night,” said Capital High WA senior Hana Moll, who was competing in the women’s pole vault. “And then also, the male pole vaulter, (University of Washington’s Jason Englar) he PR'd and I was like, ‘This is the place to do it.’” 

Moll was able to channel some of the Dempsey magic in the pole vault, as she won the women’s invitational, beating a strong collegiate field and her twin sister, Amanda Moll, who recently became the first American prep female competitor to clear 15 feet (15-1.50). Despite a tight quad coming in, Hana soared to a new personal-best herself, clearing 14-10.75 (4.54m). She made two strong attempts at 15-1.75 (4.62m), just barely missing on the second try in a bid to unseat her sister as the national record holder.

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“I totally felt great. I did not come into the meet thinking I was going to do well, but I did a great warm up, and had some great attempts at 4.62m, so I can’t complain,” Hana said.

Added Amanda: “I love watching Hana, no matter how high she’s jumping. It’s kind of like a mirror. It’s just really fun to see her jump. She’s my best friend.”

Amanda finished in second place clearing 14-6.75 (4.44m). Taking third and fourth were University of Washington’s Sara Borton (14-2.75) and Nastassja Campbell (14-2.75). Hana and Amanda will join Borton and Campbell this coming fall as Huskies, making for one of the best pole vaulting crews in the nation. 

Earlier in the day, Englar, a Husky senior, joined the 18-foot club as he cleared 18-1.25 (5.52m) and won men’s pole vault. 

While there wasn’t quite the level of performance and excitement that surrounded Friday’s mile on the track, there were a handful of highlights. 

Oregon sophomore Elliott Cook won the men’s 800 in a meet-record 1:46.93, a No. 2 collegiate time. 

“This is huge, a large confidence booster for sure,” Cook said. “I wasn’t exactly sure where I was at with the meets leading up to this. I knew I had some fitness but I didn’t expect this to be honest, but I guess I should have, I should have known Jerry (Schumacher) would do me right.” 

Washington’s Cass Elliott (1:47.22) and Aaron Ahl (1:50.08) went 2-3 in the 800. Elliott’s time is currently No. 3 in the NCAA. Ahl, a senior transfer from Simon Fraser, was part of Friday’s mile, where he finished in seventh place in a personal-best 3:57.94. 

“It was awesome. It was electric. The whole vibe in Dempsey was just super fun to be a part of,” Ahl said of the mile. “Honestly, hard to explain the energy. I don’t think I’ve really had it before in a race, especially a team environment.”

In the women’s 800, Washington junior Carley Thomas took the victory in 2:03.64.

The women’s mile was won by Oregon’s Izzy Thornton-Bott in 4:34.10.

Isaac Updike of Nike won the men’s 3,000 in 7:52.48, with Utah’s Emily Venters claiming the women’s 3,000 in a PR of 9:00.95.