T&F: Thrill of Victory, Agony of Defeat

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Molly Haywood says that Baylor assistant coach Brandon Richards treats his pole vaulters "like we're his daughters."

That's why Richards was so conflicted Thursday night at the NCAA West Prelims. While Haywood and Tenly Kuhn both vaulted 14-6 ½ to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, junior Alencia Lentz just missed out, losing a jump-off for the final qualifying spots.

"They competed like champions, every single one of them," Richards said. "(Haywood and Kuhn) have a great chance to be All-Americans and get podium finishes again. . . . And that one stings a little bit with Alencia because of what she's been through the last year and a half. She's been through a little mental struggle, and then she had a back injury. But she's been fighting and clawing back. And if you were to look at where she was last year, she's progressed so far."

Two years ago, Lentz won the Big 12 Indoor champion with a career-best vault of 14 feet, 9 inches and was 10^th at the NCAA Indoor. Struggling with the back injury last season, she didn't clear 13 feet indoors and had a season best of 13-5 ½ in winning Section B of the Texas Invitational.

Returning to form, the former two-time state champion from Canyon Lake High School went 14-0 in her first indoor meet and finished third behind Haywood and Kuhn at all three home meets, going a season-best 14-6 ¼ at the Michael Johnson Invitational. She also placed fourth at the Big 12 meet with another 14-foot vault.

"I really thought she was going to do it today," Richards said, "but this was one of the toughest competitions ever."

By comparison, Lentz finished 14^th and failed to advance with a vault of 14-2 ½, while no one in the East region went higher than 14-0 and two advanced at 13-10.

"Finishing 14^th in the West isn't bad, but it does sting a little bit, because I care about her so much," Richards said. "Seeing what she's gone through, all the adversity she's had to overcome, but she's coming back next year."

With Haywood and Kuhn both graduating, Richards said next year will be Lentz's "year to shine."

"She'll be the big gun, with four years of experience under her belt," he said.

While Richards, obviously, has to reload on the women's side, he has junior Parker Brannon and freshman Grant Vlaun coming back and added 17-foot vaulters Jace Bennett from Utopia, Texas, and Dylan Cross from Overland Park, Kan. Bennett is a three-time 1A state champion who set a meet record with a vault of 17-0 ¾ at this year's UIL State Track & Field Championships.

The Bears will also welcome two-time Class 6A state runner-up Brooklyn Nailey from Rockwall (Texas) Heath High School, who has a career PR of 13-3 ¼.

Brannon finished off his best season to date on Thursday, tying for 28^th in a delayed men's pole vault competition with a mark of 16-7 ½. He had three misses at 17-1 ½, which was just under his career PR (17-3).

"This was a tough day, especially for pole vault," Richards said. "When there are cross swirling winds, and then you add a rainstorm into that, it's very, very tough to pole vault. It's often been said that pole vault is 90% mental, and it really is, especially on a day like today."

Friday's schedule will shift back to the men, starting with the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. Live results are available at NCAA West, with ESPN+ providing live streaming.

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.

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T&F: Thrill of Victory, Agony of Defeat

Players Mentioned

Parker Brannon

Molly Haywood

Tenly Kuhn

Alencia Lentz

Grant Vlaun

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