Reigning Olympic and World pole vault champion Katie Moon returned to familiar territory at the Doha Diamond League on Friday night, but this time, things didn’t quite go to plan for the American star.
In a stacked women’s pole vault field featuring multiple Olympic medallists, it was Great Britain’s Molly Caudery who handled the tricky conditions best. The 2024 World Indoor Champion soared to a winning height of 4.75m, securing her second consecutive victory on the Diamond League circuit. Italy’s Roberta Bruni and Moon shared the runner-up spot at 4.63m.
For Moon, Doha had previously been a happy hunting ground. She claimed victories at this meeting in 2021 and 2023, vaulting 4.84m and 4.81m respectively. This year, however, marked the opening of her outdoor season, following a dominant indoor campaign that saw her win the U.S. national title but skip the World Indoor Championships to focus on the longer outdoor season culminating in September.
So, what went wrong in Doha?
In her post-race interview, Moon pointed to the conditions as a key factor.
“I was really hoping for more, but at the same time the pole vault is tricky, the wind made it tricky,” Moon admitted.
While she cleared her opening heights cleanly, adjustments made to compensate for shifting wind patterns disrupted her rhythm as the bar was raised.
“I made an adjustment based on what the wind was doing, and unfortunately I just didn’t feel my way,” she explained.
Despite the third-place finish on paper, Moon remained upbeat about her performance and her training.
“This is the best bit of training I’ve ever had,” she said.
“The challenge in pole vault is the wind and conditions can affect us when we’re coming down. It can really change the trajectory of your jump.”
Moon also emphasized that the Doha meet was part of a longer-term plan, using early-season competitions to fine-tune her steps and pole selections under pressure.
“At this point, it’s about getting those reps on the runway. I can’t get that in practice, you don’t have the same adrenaline and pressure.”
Looking Ahead
For Moon, with her sights set firmly on the major outdoor competitions later this year, the meet offered valuable lessons.
“I’m not in my sharpest yet because I want to peak for September,” she explained.
Next on her schedule is a trip to Rabat for another Diamond League appearance, where she’ll look to build consistency and momentum.
