Friday, March 8
Boston, MA
6:30 AM
University of Washington
vs
NCAA Indoor Championships
Hana Moll Wins First NCAA Title In Pole Vault
March 08, 2024 | Track & Field
2024 NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 7-9
Boston, Mass. | The TRACK At New Balance
Complete Schedule | Saturday Start Lists: Men | Women
Live Results
Live Video (ESPN+): Saturday Men | Saturday Women
Schedule of Huskies in action
Saturday
7:30am PT - Men's Heptathlon 60m Hurdles - Bruno Comin Pescador
8:30am PT - Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault - Bruno Comin Pescador
12:30pm PT - Men's Heptathlon 1000m - Bruno Comin Pescador
1:00pm PT - Men's Mile Final - Luke Houser, Joe Waskom
2:00pm PT - Men's 3000m Final – Luke Houser
4:30pm PT - Women's 800m Final – Wilma Nielsen
BOSTON – Hana Moll couldn't have come in to her first collegiate season with higher expectations, and she met and exceeded all of them. The American junior record-holder from Olympia, Wash. delivered her first collegiate national title with a nearly flawless performance, becoming the first freshman ever to win the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Moll's victory was the huge highlight for Washington on day two of the championships in Boston, at The TRACK At New Balance, but UW also got a stunning podium finish from Prestin Artis in the men's long jump, while a trio of mid-distance runners moved into Saturday's finals. Joe Waskom and Luke Houser (men's mile) and Wilma Nielsen (women's 800m) will chase championships tomorrow on the final day of the meet, along with Bruno Comin Pescador in the heptathlon.
All About Moll
Hana Moll was coming off a 2023 that saw her make Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, where she made the final and finished ninth in the world. She quickly became the top-ranked vaulter in the NCAA this indoor season when she cleared 15-2 ¾ back at the UW Invitational in January. Handling the pressure of being a freshman favorite, Moll went two bars higher than any other jumper today to secure the victory, making 15-feet, 1-inch.
It's the first individual NCAA track and field title on the women's side for the Dawgs since 2012, when Katie Flood won the outdoor 1,500-meters title. It's just the second win all-time for the women in the pole vault, despite many more close calls over the years, as Kate Soma won the outdoor pole vault title back in 2005.
"It feels amazing. I came in really wanting to win and have a good time, and I accomplished both of those things, so I'm really happy with how I did today," said Moll. "I was a little bit nervous for the collegiate transition, but I think what I've jumped this season has given me confidence in my training and my coaches.
Although Moll had seven clearances with only one miss until the title was secured, it was hardly a walk in the park. An impressive nine women cleared 14-5 ¼ today, and after her one miss at that same height, Moll was stuck in second for three-straight heights, as Riley Felts from Charlotte was perfect up to a first-attempt make at 14-9. Felts was right in front of Moll in the jumping order as well, so she kept holding the lead over Moll because of Moll's single miss.
But finally at 14-11, Felts fell short, and Moll sailed over on her first try to take command of the competition. She was the only vaulter to clear that height. One competitor, Sydney Horn of High Point, passed up to the next height, 15-1, but Moll went right out and cleared that on a first try as well, and Horn missed her last chance.
Moll then pushed the bar up to the Olympic Standard of 4.73-meters, or 15-6 ¼, which would have been a lifetime-best. She had three very close attempts, especially the first one that had the crowd gasping when the bar barely fell off. After a third miss, she waved to the crowd and went over to the guard rail for some hugs with coaches and family.
"I haven't competed like this in a while, I started low at the opening height and I jumped at every bar, which I normally don't do," said Moll. "But I felt really happy with the consistency of my jumps and how technical they were. I think (my jumps) are a lot different than last year, but for the better."
Senior Nastassja Campbell got up and over the first two heights in the pole vault today as well, but she came up a couple spots shy of the podium. Campbell tied for 11th at 14-1 ¼ to earn Second Team All-America, the seventh All-America award of her career.
Artis Makes One Count
Prestin Artis burst onto the NCAA Championship scene with a rarely-seen flair this afternoon. On the first jump of his first championship appearance, Artis flew to a five-inch lifetime-best, landing at 26-feet, 3-inches, or an even 8.00-meters. That mark was good for fifth-place, getting him on the podium as a First Team All-American, and the first Husky long jump scorer since Norris Frederick in 2008.
The mark was all the more impressive as Artis had been out of action and rehabbing a hamstring issue over the last several weeks. He had to watch and wait as his qualifying mark of 25-10 slid near the brink of the top-16 cut-off, hoping he would still make it to nationals and get there at full strength. Artis made it at No. 15 out of 16 qualifiers. He then made the most of his chance today.
After that phenomenal opening round jump, on his second jump, Artis did feel another twinge in his leg, and he tried to stay loose and manage it, but ultimately he passed his remaining four jumps, not wanting to risk another setback with the outdoor season coming. Meanwhile he watched as his round one mark was bettered in later rounds by a couple jumpers, but still landed at fifth-place overall.
Houser And Waskom Return To Mile Final; Nielsen Reaches 800m Final
Veterans of moving through the always hectic mile and 1,500-meter rounds, NCAA Champions Luke Houser and Joe Waskom each successfully navigated another tough semifinal today to each return to the mile finals.
Needing top-four finishes to automatically make Saturday's final, each Husky worked their way through traffic and jostling until they were in the lead heading into the final lap of the 200-meter track. Waskom was in the first heat, and he held his lead position down to the final few meters, taking his foot off the gas to finish second in 3:57.13.
Houser had a similar stretch run, staying strong up front as six men were scrapping for the top-four. Houser came through in second-place in 3:58.62. They'll both try to secure their second individual championships on Saturday.
In the women's 800-meters, senior transfer Wilma Nielsen unleashed a major final lap sprint to go from sixth up to third and grab the auto-qualifying spot in Saturday's final. Nielsen was a finalist a year ago with Bradley, and she fought her way back with a time of 2:02.56, running the final 200-meters in 31.56 seconds, second-fastest in the heat.
Manson And Bresko In Pole Vault
In their first seasons as Dawgs, and first NCAA Indoor Championship meets, the pair of Dawgs each cleared the opening bar of 17-4 ½ on their second attempts. But moving up to 17-8 ½, neither Manson or Bresko were able to get up and over cleanly, bowing out of the competition there.
They would finish in a tie for 11th-place to both earn Second Team All-America honors.
Comin Pescador Gets Through 4 Of 7 In Heptathlon
In his second trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships, Bruno Comin Pescador is looking to fight his way onto the podium for a second time after placing eighth in 2023. The Spaniard was the first Husky in action today, starting early with event one, the 60-meters, and continuing on to the long jump, shot put, and high jump to finish the day.
Comin Pescador will head into Saturday's final three events in eighth-place with 3,244 points.
He started with a time of 7.12 seconds in the 60-meters (13th-fastest), and then long jumped a best of 22-10 ½ to finish 12th in that event. He had the sixth-best shot put mark at 47-11 ¾. He then had a strong third-attempt make of 6-feet-8 in the high jump, wobbling the bar but leaving it standing. That was the fourth-best mark in the high jump and just off his PR.
Second Team Honors For DMRs, Mid-Distance Trio
Nathan Green ran his first NCAA 800-meters today but fell a few spots shy of the final. The outdoor 1,500-meter champ was in the back early and had to try and navigate some traffic trying to move up in the eight-man field. On the final lap he made a hard close but just couldn't make up enough ground. Green finished sixth in his heat and 11th overall in 1:48.38, earning Second Team All-America honors.
The men's DMR finished the men's portion of the day, as the Dawgs rolled out a completely different lineup than their American Indoor Record-setting squad, as three of those legs—Waskom, Green, Houser—had all recently raced individual events.
So redshirt freshman Evan Jenkins drew lead-off duty on the 1,200-meter leg. Jenkins split 2:56.93 and passed to Daniel Gaik for 400-meters, the one returning leg from the team that posted the qualifying time. Gaik ran 46.80 on his leg and gave to Ronan McMahon-Staggs for the 800-meters. He went 1:48.65 and then passed to Leo Daschbach for the 1,600-meter anchor. Daschbach ran 3:58.04 to bring the Huskies to the line in 9:30.40, in ninth-place, just a half-second away from seventh. That earns the group Second Team All-America status.
The first track event for the women was the mile semifinals, with Chloe Foerster making her NCAA debut at the distance. Foerster led for nearly the entire race until about two laps to go she finally surrendered the lead. But she made a move with the new leaders and was still in a good spot trying to earn a top-four finish, but got bumped with less than a hundred meters to go and lost her needed momentum. Foerster finished seventh in the heat in 4:36.35.
Foerster would rally back later in the night and run a great opening leg on the women's DMR, as she passed the baton in second-place after the 1,200-meters. Anna Terrell gave to Marlena Preigh who had the Huskies in the thick of things, but then misfortune struck the Dawgs again, as two runners collided and fell in front of Preigh, and she couldn't avoid stumbling and falling over them. Preigh picked up the baton and kept fighting, handing to India Weir on the anchor leg, but the Huskies wound up in 11th-place in the end.
Carley Thomas also picked up All-America Second Team honors in the 800-meters, running in the same heat as Nielsen, but she was unable to find her usual form today and crossed in 2:05.34, out of the running for a finals spot.
NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Mar. 8 | Day 2 of 3
Boston, Mass. | The TRACK At New Balance
Washington results
Women's 800m, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
3. Wilma Nielsen, 2:02.56 (advances to final)
8. Carley Thomas, 2:05.34 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Women's Mile, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
7. Chloe Foerster, 4:36.35 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Women's Distance Medley Relay, Final
11. Washington (Chloe Foerster, Anna Terrell, Marlena Preigh, India Weir), 11:04.06 (Second Team All-America)
Women's Pole Vault, Final
1. Hana Moll, 15-1 (NCAA Champion; First Team All-America)
11 (tie). Nastassja Campbell, 14-1 ¼ (Second Team All-America)
Men's 800m, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
6. Nathan Green, 1:48.38 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Men's Mile, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
2. Joe Waskom, 3:57.13 (advances to final)
Heat 2 of 2
2. Luke Houser, 3:58.62 (advances to final)
Men's Distance Medley Relay, Final
9. Washington (Evan Jenkins, Daniel Gaik, Ronan McMahon-Staggs, Leo Daschbach), 9:30.40 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Pole Vault, Final
11 (tie). Mathis Bresko, 17-4 ½ (Second Team All-America)
11 (tie). Max Manson, 17-4 ½ (Second Team All-America)
Men's Long Jump, Final
5. Prestin Artis, 26-3 (First Team All-America)
Men's Heptathlon
Hep 60m
13. Bruno Comin Pescador, 7.12
Hep Long Jump
12. Bruno Comin Pescador, 22-10 ½
Hep Shot Put
6. Bruno Comin Pescador, 47-11 ¾
Hep High Jump
4. Bruno Comin Pescador, 6-8
Heptathlon Day One Standings
8. Bruno Comin Pescador, 3244
Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 7-9
Boston, Mass. | The TRACK At New Balance
Complete Schedule | Saturday Start Lists: Men | Women
Live Results
Live Video (ESPN+): Saturday Men | Saturday Women
Schedule of Huskies in action
Saturday
7:30am PT - Men's Heptathlon 60m Hurdles - Bruno Comin Pescador
8:30am PT - Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault - Bruno Comin Pescador
12:30pm PT - Men's Heptathlon 1000m - Bruno Comin Pescador
1:00pm PT - Men's Mile Final - Luke Houser, Joe Waskom
2:00pm PT - Men's 3000m Final – Luke Houser
4:30pm PT - Women's 800m Final – Wilma Nielsen
BOSTON – Hana Moll couldn't have come in to her first collegiate season with higher expectations, and she met and exceeded all of them. The American junior record-holder from Olympia, Wash. delivered her first collegiate national title with a nearly flawless performance, becoming the first freshman ever to win the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Moll's victory was the huge highlight for Washington on day two of the championships in Boston, at The TRACK At New Balance, but UW also got a stunning podium finish from Prestin Artis in the men's long jump, while a trio of mid-distance runners moved into Saturday's finals. Joe Waskom and Luke Houser (men's mile) and Wilma Nielsen (women's 800m) will chase championships tomorrow on the final day of the meet, along with Bruno Comin Pescador in the heptathlon.
All About Moll
Hana Moll was coming off a 2023 that saw her make Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, where she made the final and finished ninth in the world. She quickly became the top-ranked vaulter in the NCAA this indoor season when she cleared 15-2 ¾ back at the UW Invitational in January. Handling the pressure of being a freshman favorite, Moll went two bars higher than any other jumper today to secure the victory, making 15-feet, 1-inch.
??????'?? ?? ???????????????? ????
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) March 9, 2024
Hana Moll is the NCAA Pole Vault Champion!
?? ESPN+ #NCAATF x @UWTrack pic.twitter.com/k1obt8lA5o
It's the first individual NCAA track and field title on the women's side for the Dawgs since 2012, when Katie Flood won the outdoor 1,500-meters title. It's just the second win all-time for the women in the pole vault, despite many more close calls over the years, as Kate Soma won the outdoor pole vault title back in 2005.
"It feels amazing. I came in really wanting to win and have a good time, and I accomplished both of those things, so I'm really happy with how I did today," said Moll. "I was a little bit nervous for the collegiate transition, but I think what I've jumped this season has given me confidence in my training and my coaches.
Although Moll had seven clearances with only one miss until the title was secured, it was hardly a walk in the park. An impressive nine women cleared 14-5 ¼ today, and after her one miss at that same height, Moll was stuck in second for three-straight heights, as Riley Felts from Charlotte was perfect up to a first-attempt make at 14-9. Felts was right in front of Moll in the jumping order as well, so she kept holding the lead over Moll because of Moll's single miss.
But finally at 14-11, Felts fell short, and Moll sailed over on her first try to take command of the competition. She was the only vaulter to clear that height. One competitor, Sydney Horn of High Point, passed up to the next height, 15-1, but Moll went right out and cleared that on a first try as well, and Horn missed her last chance.
Moll then pushed the bar up to the Olympic Standard of 4.73-meters, or 15-6 ¼, which would have been a lifetime-best. She had three very close attempts, especially the first one that had the crowd gasping when the bar barely fell off. After a third miss, she waved to the crowd and went over to the guard rail for some hugs with coaches and family.
"I haven't competed like this in a while, I started low at the opening height and I jumped at every bar, which I normally don't do," said Moll. "But I felt really happy with the consistency of my jumps and how technical they were. I think (my jumps) are a lot different than last year, but for the better."
Senior Nastassja Campbell got up and over the first two heights in the pole vault today as well, but she came up a couple spots shy of the podium. Campbell tied for 11th at 14-1 ¼ to earn Second Team All-America, the seventh All-America award of her career.
"I was vaulting for a lot more than myself today"
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) March 9, 2024
?? ESPN+ #NCAATF x @UWTrack pic.twitter.com/XTqpn0Y2MZ
Artis Makes One Count
Prestin Artis burst onto the NCAA Championship scene with a rarely-seen flair this afternoon. On the first jump of his first championship appearance, Artis flew to a five-inch lifetime-best, landing at 26-feet, 3-inches, or an even 8.00-meters. That mark was good for fifth-place, getting him on the podium as a First Team All-American, and the first Husky long jump scorer since Norris Frederick in 2008.
The mark was all the more impressive as Artis had been out of action and rehabbing a hamstring issue over the last several weeks. He had to watch and wait as his qualifying mark of 25-10 slid near the brink of the top-16 cut-off, hoping he would still make it to nationals and get there at full strength. Artis made it at No. 15 out of 16 qualifiers. He then made the most of his chance today.
After that phenomenal opening round jump, on his second jump, Artis did feel another twinge in his leg, and he tried to stay loose and manage it, but ultimately he passed his remaining four jumps, not wanting to risk another setback with the outdoor season coming. Meanwhile he watched as his round one mark was bettered in later rounds by a couple jumpers, but still landed at fifth-place overall.
Vibes are ?? for Prestin after his 8-meter leap and new 5th-place ?? #GoHuskies x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/dCj0mhSDJS
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) March 8, 2024
Houser And Waskom Return To Mile Final; Nielsen Reaches 800m Final
Veterans of moving through the always hectic mile and 1,500-meter rounds, NCAA Champions Luke Houser and Joe Waskom each successfully navigated another tough semifinal today to each return to the mile finals.
????? Luke Houser quickly catches his breath for a chat after getting back to the NCAA Indoor Championship mile final#GoHuskies x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/mtTH2GxtjZ
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) March 8, 2024
Needing top-four finishes to automatically make Saturday's final, each Husky worked their way through traffic and jostling until they were in the lead heading into the final lap of the 200-meter track. Waskom was in the first heat, and he held his lead position down to the final few meters, taking his foot off the gas to finish second in 3:57.13.
Houser had a similar stretch run, staying strong up front as six men were scrapping for the top-four. Houser came through in second-place in 3:58.62. They'll both try to secure their second individual championships on Saturday.
In the women's 800-meters, senior transfer Wilma Nielsen unleashed a major final lap sprint to go from sixth up to third and grab the auto-qualifying spot in Saturday's final. Nielsen was a finalist a year ago with Bradley, and she fought her way back with a time of 2:02.56, running the final 200-meters in 31.56 seconds, second-fastest in the heat.
Wilma Nielsen powers into the women's 800-meter final with a fantastic closing kick!#GoHuskies x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/aSOfua1mmF
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) March 9, 2024
Manson And Bresko In Pole Vault
In their first seasons as Dawgs, and first NCAA Indoor Championship meets, the pair of Dawgs each cleared the opening bar of 17-4 ½ on their second attempts. But moving up to 17-8 ½, neither Manson or Bresko were able to get up and over cleanly, bowing out of the competition there.
They would finish in a tie for 11th-place to both earn Second Team All-America honors.
Comin Pescador Gets Through 4 Of 7 In Heptathlon
In his second trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships, Bruno Comin Pescador is looking to fight his way onto the podium for a second time after placing eighth in 2023. The Spaniard was the first Husky in action today, starting early with event one, the 60-meters, and continuing on to the long jump, shot put, and high jump to finish the day.
Comin Pescador will head into Saturday's final three events in eighth-place with 3,244 points.
He started with a time of 7.12 seconds in the 60-meters (13th-fastest), and then long jumped a best of 22-10 ½ to finish 12th in that event. He had the sixth-best shot put mark at 47-11 ¾. He then had a strong third-attempt make of 6-feet-8 in the high jump, wobbling the bar but leaving it standing. That was the fourth-best mark in the high jump and just off his PR.
Second Team Honors For DMRs, Mid-Distance Trio
Nathan Green ran his first NCAA 800-meters today but fell a few spots shy of the final. The outdoor 1,500-meter champ was in the back early and had to try and navigate some traffic trying to move up in the eight-man field. On the final lap he made a hard close but just couldn't make up enough ground. Green finished sixth in his heat and 11th overall in 1:48.38, earning Second Team All-America honors.
The men's DMR finished the men's portion of the day, as the Dawgs rolled out a completely different lineup than their American Indoor Record-setting squad, as three of those legs—Waskom, Green, Houser—had all recently raced individual events.
So redshirt freshman Evan Jenkins drew lead-off duty on the 1,200-meter leg. Jenkins split 2:56.93 and passed to Daniel Gaik for 400-meters, the one returning leg from the team that posted the qualifying time. Gaik ran 46.80 on his leg and gave to Ronan McMahon-Staggs for the 800-meters. He went 1:48.65 and then passed to Leo Daschbach for the 1,600-meter anchor. Daschbach ran 3:58.04 to bring the Huskies to the line in 9:30.40, in ninth-place, just a half-second away from seventh. That earns the group Second Team All-America status.
The first track event for the women was the mile semifinals, with Chloe Foerster making her NCAA debut at the distance. Foerster led for nearly the entire race until about two laps to go she finally surrendered the lead. But she made a move with the new leaders and was still in a good spot trying to earn a top-four finish, but got bumped with less than a hundred meters to go and lost her needed momentum. Foerster finished seventh in the heat in 4:36.35.
Foerster would rally back later in the night and run a great opening leg on the women's DMR, as she passed the baton in second-place after the 1,200-meters. Anna Terrell gave to Marlena Preigh who had the Huskies in the thick of things, but then misfortune struck the Dawgs again, as two runners collided and fell in front of Preigh, and she couldn't avoid stumbling and falling over them. Preigh picked up the baton and kept fighting, handing to India Weir on the anchor leg, but the Huskies wound up in 11th-place in the end.
Carley Thomas also picked up All-America Second Team honors in the 800-meters, running in the same heat as Nielsen, but she was unable to find her usual form today and crossed in 2:05.34, out of the running for a finals spot.
NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Mar. 8 | Day 2 of 3
Boston, Mass. | The TRACK At New Balance
Washington results
Women's 800m, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
3. Wilma Nielsen, 2:02.56 (advances to final)
8. Carley Thomas, 2:05.34 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Women's Mile, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
7. Chloe Foerster, 4:36.35 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Women's Distance Medley Relay, Final
11. Washington (Chloe Foerster, Anna Terrell, Marlena Preigh, India Weir), 11:04.06 (Second Team All-America)
Women's Pole Vault, Final
1. Hana Moll, 15-1 (NCAA Champion; First Team All-America)
11 (tie). Nastassja Campbell, 14-1 ¼ (Second Team All-America)
Men's 800m, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
6. Nathan Green, 1:48.38 (does not advance; Second Team All-America)
Men's Mile, Semifinals
Heat 1 of 2
2. Joe Waskom, 3:57.13 (advances to final)
Heat 2 of 2
2. Luke Houser, 3:58.62 (advances to final)
Men's Distance Medley Relay, Final
9. Washington (Evan Jenkins, Daniel Gaik, Ronan McMahon-Staggs, Leo Daschbach), 9:30.40 (Second Team All-America)
Men's Pole Vault, Final
11 (tie). Mathis Bresko, 17-4 ½ (Second Team All-America)
11 (tie). Max Manson, 17-4 ½ (Second Team All-America)
Men's Long Jump, Final
5. Prestin Artis, 26-3 (First Team All-America)
Men's Heptathlon
Hep 60m
13. Bruno Comin Pescador, 7.12
Hep Long Jump
12. Bruno Comin Pescador, 22-10 ½
Hep Shot Put
6. Bruno Comin Pescador, 47-11 ¾
Hep High Jump
4. Bruno Comin Pescador, 6-8
Heptathlon Day One Standings
8. Bruno Comin Pescador, 3244
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Multis
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Spr
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Spr
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & Field
Dist
/ Track & FieldRaising the Bar | Hana & Amanda Moll
Monday, August 04
Women's 1500m final - 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championship
Sunday, June 15
Nathan Green | 2025 NCAA 1500m Champion
Saturday, June 14
Track & Field NCAA Championships | Huskies Highlights
Friday, June 13
