TRACK: Polson pole vaulter reaches finals at Olympic Trials

by The Daily Inter Lake
| July 8, 2016 10:30 PM

EUGENE, Ore. — Polson native Melinda (Owen) Withrow cleared 4.35 meters (14 feet, 3 inches) to advance to the finals of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Friday at Hayward Field.

Withrow, who was a Class A state champion at Polson in the pole vault and javelin, and an all-state volleyball player, is tied for 11th after the qualifying rounds.

Following Friday’s jumps, Jenn Suhr, the defending Olympic champion, leads the field at 4.5 meters (14-9).

The finals will have 14 vaulters competing on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Withrow had a standout career at the University of Idaho after graduating from Polson, winning back-to-back Western Athletic Conference championships in the pole vault.

She is the daughter of longtime Pirates wrestling coach Bob Owen.