The 2024 Olympic Trials men’s pole vault final is tonight at 5:40pm Pacific.
I will be in the stadium, melting in the sun, you can follow my live tweets here: https://x.com/polevaultpower/status/1804913283692146698
Live results: https://results.usatf.org
Dedicated pole vault stream: Peacock
Height progression: 547/562/572/582/587 then 5cm
The top 3 finishers will make the Olympic team as long as they have the qualifying standard (5.82m) or are ranked high enough. Eight of the finalists already have the standard and several more are ranked high enough, this is unlikely to be an issue.
If there is a tie for 3rd or 4th, an administrative jump-off will be held after the event to break the tie.
The big favorites coming in to this meet were Chris Nilsen, Sam Kendricks and KC Lightfoot.
Lightfoot failed to advance from the qualifying round. Kendricks looked great in qualifying but told the media afterward that he may decline his spot on the team if he qualifies. Nilsen had a great indoor season, but has only jumped 5.72m outdoors, well below his best form, and while he jumped solidly in qualifying, he did not look to be at 100%.
Kendricks and Nilsen are still strong favorites to make the team (and I am skeptical Kendricks will actually decline his spot), but nothing is guaranteed and it’s possible that we may see a rather unexpected Olympic team this year!
Austin Miller is a strong candidate to make the team, he jumped 5.90m twice indoors, has jumped 5.80+ twice outdoors and looked very strong in qualifying.
Zach Bradford struggled at indoor nationals this year, but he has jumped 5.82m twice this outdoor season and was a surprise addition to last year’s World Championship team.
Keaton Daniel jumped 5.80m indoors this year and is coming off a strong collegiate career, winning NCAAs indoors and outdoors. Daniel doesn’t have the standard but he is ranked high enough to qualify.
Matt Ludwig has been a bit below his best this year, but he looked really good in the qualifying round and he has a record of jumping well in unfavorable conditions. Although the weather will be nice tonight, the wind at Hayward Field is not always predictable. Ludwig doesn’t have the standard but he is ranked high enough to qualify.
Every single athlete in this field has the potential to jump at least 5.82m and make the team, someone I have not mentioned could easily do it as well!
I hope you will tune in to the coverage on NBC/Peacock and follow along with my tweets.
