Washington Earned Commitments From National Pole Vault Duo

Oct 31, 2022

For the University of Washington, twice was nice this weekend.

That's because on Sunday the Huskies received verbal commitments from not one but two all-time performers: Both the national outdoor and indoor record-holder in the pole vault, Amanda Moll, and her twin sister Hana Moll, the reigning World U20 champion, ranked No. 9 all-time outdoors and No. 2 indoors in the U.S. all-time.

Just how important could these pledges be for Washington?

The Molls, high school seniors from Olympia High School and the Northwest Pole Vault Club, are undoubtedly the most accomplished pole vaulters in high school history -- and they still have a year left of high school.

Amanda has cleared outdoor bars of 14-9.5, 14-7.25, 14-6, 14-4 and 14-3.25. She's gone over 14 feet 11 times in her career outdoors. She finished fifth at the World U20 Championships in August.

Hana has accomplished heights of 14-5.25, 14-3.25 and 14-0. She's cleared bars over 14 feet eight times over her outdoor career. This summer, she claimed a World U20 title in Colombia.

Indoors, Amanda tied the national record with a clearance of 14-9, while Hana has lifted off for a mark of 14-8.

Only 30 girls in high school history have ever achieved a height over 14 feet in the pole vault outdoors. Only 15 have done it indoors.

Based on outdoor PRs from last year alone, Amanda would have tied for fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and second at indoors. Hana's PRs would have been good for fifth at NCAA outdoors and second indoors.

The women's program record at the University of Washington, which is also the NCAA outdoor record, is 15-6.25 and it was set by Washington graduate Olivia Gruver, who's now an assistant pole vault coach with the Huskies.

Talk about in-house coaching. With the Molls, the Huskies immediately enter the discussion as national contenders in the pole vault.

And there's reason to believe that could be the case. Before several high-performing athletes began to openly chase after the national record in recent years, Cabot (AR) High School graduate Alexis Jacobus was the standard-setter, clearing 14-7.5 in 2015.

She went on to the University of Arkansas, where she would win an indoor title in her first season, clear 15-feet and later go on to qualify for the Olympics. She finished her collegiate career with four NCAA titles.

Here's where a list of high performers have gone on to in recent seasons: