The Meet

South Dakota alumni Chris Nilsen (2020) and Emily Grove (2017) are set to compete in the men's and women's pole vault at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
 
The meet will be aired live on CNBC, the NBC Sports app, Peacock and USATF.TV+. Live field event feeds will be available on USATF.TV+.
 

The Coyotes

Nilsen enters as the two-time defending pole vault champion at the U.S. Outdoor Championships. He enters this year's meet with the second-best mark during the outdoor season, having cleared a season-best of 19-5 (5.92m) in Poland on June 6. He owns a personal best of 19-10 ¼ (6.05m), which is also the American Indoor record. Nilsen took home the silver at the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and again at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.
 
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Nilsen was a three-time NCAA Champion for the Coyotes. He was a seven-time All-American, taking at least bronze at each NCAA Championship meet held during his collegiate career. He owns South Dakota's indoor and outdoor pole vault records.
 
Grove was the silver medalist in the pole vault at the 2023 U.S. Indoor Championships and placed fifth at the outdoor meet last summer. She owns a personal best of 15-7 (4.75m) set last summer in California. Grove enters with the fifth-best mark this season, clearing 15-1 ½ (4.61m) in France on June 9.
 
Hailing from Pontiac, Illinois, Grove was a six-time All-American for the Coyotes and was the 2014 NCAA Indoor Runner-Up in the pole vault. She graduated with USD's indoor and outdoor pole vault records.
 
In addition to Nilsen and Grove, local protégé Maggie Ewen will be competing in the women's shot put and hammer throw. Ewen, an Arizona State alumna, trains with USD throws coach Kyle Long in Vermillion.
 

The Schedule

All times listed as Central.
 
Saturday, July 8
7 p.m. Men's Pole Vault – Chris Nilsen
10:15 p.m. Women's Shot Put – Maggie Ewen
 
Sunday, July 9
6 p.m. Women's Hammer Throw – Maggie Ewen
7 p.m. Women's Pole Vault – Emily Grove
 

The Competition

The top athletes from the United States will be taking the stage in Eugene this weekend with a world championship team on the line.
 

Up Next

The top-three finishers from each event with the standard will advance to the 2023 World Athletics Championships held Aug. 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.