South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen qualified for Team USA in the pole vault yesterday evening with first-place finish at the US Olympic Trials in Oregon. He cleared the Olympic standard bar of 19’-0.25”, then took sole possession of first place, clearing 19’-2.25”. Nilsen secured the United States championship with a clearance of 19’-4.25” on his first attempt. Sam Kendricks and KC Lightfoot will join Nilsen as part of the pole vault squad in Tokyo. The Olympics are scheduled to begin on July 23rd in Tokyo, Japan.
