SACRAMENTO, Calif.–South Dakota recent graduate Emily Grove came in clutch in a third-place jump off in the pole vault at the U.S. National Championships to advance to the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England, later this summer.
 
Grove will represent the United States on the world stage with 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Sandi Morris and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Jenn Suhr. Morris won the event with a clearance of 15-9 while Suhr's last made bar was 15-3.
 
Grove and Morgan LeLeux tied for third place with first-attempt makes over 14-5 ¼ and 14-11. When neither Grove or LeLeux, nor the remaining three vaulters, cleared 15-3 the third qualifying spot was determined by a jump-off. The bar moved to 15-1 and Grove tied her personal best height with a clearance on her first attempt to earn a spot on the world team.
 
Joining Grove in representing South Dakota at the 2017 IAAF World Championships is freshman Chris Nilsen. Nilsen punched his ticket with a third-place finish yesterday afternoon.
 
A sixth-year senior for the Coyotes from Pontiac, Ill., Grove became the ninth collegiate woman to break the 15-foot barrier this spring. She has tallied the most All-America honors by a Coyote at the NCAA Division I level with six. The 2017 Summit League Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, she captured her fourth Summit pole vault title in May. Grove was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American earlier this week.
 
The IAAF World Championships are scheduled for August 4-13 in London, England.