Kendricks advances to Olympic trials finals

Published 6:01 am Sunday, July 3, 2016

Sam Kendricks is one step closer to making his Olympic dream a reality.

The Oxford native cleared all three bars in the pole vault qualifying at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Kendricks needed just one attempt each to clear 5.40 meters, 5.50 and 5.55, finishing in the top 3 along with Logan Cunningham and Jacob Blankenship.

Kendricks, an Oxford High graduate who vaulted collegiately at Ole Miss, advanced to Monday’s finals needing another top-3 finish to earn a spot on Team USA and compete in the Rio Olympics in August. His personal best is 5.92.

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Ranked second in the world in the pole vault, Kendricks is a four-time U.S. champion and took the silver medal at this year’s World Indoors. He was a two-time national champion at Ole Miss from 2012-14 before forgoing his senior season to get an early start on his professional career.

The men’s pole vault finals will be broadcasted live at 5:30 p.m. Monday on NBC’s digital app and streamed online at olympics.nbcsports.com.