OTTAWA, Ontario–South Dakota freshman Makiah Hunt captured the U20 pole vault title over the weekend at the 2017 Canadian Track and Field Championships at Terry Fox Athletic Facility.
 
A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Hunt won the event with a clearance of 12 feet, 11 ½ inches, more than 10 inches above the second-place finisher. Her height would have placed eighth in Canada's senior competition. Hunt qualifies for her second Pan American Junior Athletics Championships after capturing the Canadian U20 National title in 2015 as well.
 
Hunt's personal best of 13-3 ¾ in the pole vault came at the Summit League Championships in Fargo, N.D., this past May. She also qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary as a true freshman.
 
Hunt will represent Canada at the 2017 Pan American Junior Championships held in Trujillo, Peru, from July 21-23.
 
With the addition of Hunt, the University of South Dakota will have three pole vaulters competing at international competitions this summer. Senior Emily Grove and freshman Chris Nilsen both qualified for the IAAF World Senior Championships in London, England, this August and will represent the United States.