Katie Moon of the United States won the women’s pole vaulting gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Wednesday with a jump of 4.90 meters following a back-and-forth battle that left compatriot Sandi Morris in second place. Tina Sutej of Slovenia took bronze after failing to make 4.85 meters.
Moon took control of the last stages of the final by clearing 4.90 on her second attempt after Morris had already missed twice. Morris then raised the bar to 4.95 in an all-out attempt at gold, but missed the jump to confirm her silver medal.
Moon made her first four jumps, failing for the first time at 4.85 and electing to skip the height, which Morris promptly made on her first attempt. Morris, however, had needed two tries to make the previous height of 4.80.
Katie Moon beats fellow American Sandi Morris for gold in pole vault final in Tokyo
