MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In his third-straight Olympic Games, Oxford native Sam Kendricks will once again have the chance to vault his way to gold.
On Saturday the Ole Miss grad was one of eight athletes to clear 5.75 meters and advance to the finals on Monday.
The jump was tied for the highest of the day and also ties Kendrick's season best. The Mid-South native has jumped as high as 6.06 in his career.
Having placed third at the 2016 Olympics, winning to world championships and making both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, Kendricks is arguably one of the most decorated pole vaulters in U.S. history.
After not being able to compete at Tokyo due to a positive Covid-19 test, Kendricks told ABC24, "I've been robbed from it in the past and I don't want to be robbed from it again. I think I'm the best I've ever been. I've got the best crew behind me and I want to be able to make everyone proud."
The 12-athlete pole vault final begins on Monday at 12 p.m. CT.