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Brynn King ’19 is Concordia’s 2nd Olympian as part of Team USA for Women’s Pole Vault at 2024 Paris Olympics

No two Olympians have the same path to representing their nation at the rotating Olympiad. Some Olympians like Michael Phelps or Simone Biles first competed as teenagers. Others found their strength and triumphed later in adulthood like Novak Djokovic or LeBron James, atop their sports currently in their late 30s. Whatever the path, when you become an Olympian, you will always be an Olympian and that is now true of Concordia’s Brynn King from the Class of 2019.

Most recently, a two-time NCAA D-II National Champion, Brynn King ’19 is set to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics for Women’s Pole Vault in early August. King is Concordia’s 2nd Olympian following Tampa Bay Rays RHP Shane Baz ’17 who was part of Team USA’s Baseball team that won a silver medal in 2021 as part of the COVID adjusted 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

King officially made it as part of Team USA with a 3rd place finish at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR at the end of June 2024. In the Pole Vault Finals, King successfully cleared 4.73M or 15’ 6¼“ (a new personal best – previous best had been 4.68M) to secure the 3rd and final Olympic spot in the event. Full results from the trials can be viewed here: https://results.usatf.org/

 

When to Watch and What to Watch For

SaderNation and the entire world will have the opportunity to cheer for Brynn on Monday, Aug. 5th starting at 3:40 am CST on Peacock as part of the Women’s Pole Vault Qualification round. King will be in Qualification Group B along with one of the other two American women, Katie Moon, the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist from Tokyo. Moon and King both cleared 4.73M at the US Trials. Moon is ranked 2nd in the world heading into the Olympics and King currently sits at #29.

The qualification process involves two groups of 15 athletes competing in side-by-side pole vault pits on the end of the stadium. For Women’s Pole Vault, athletes advance out of the qualification round by placing in the top 12 or achieving the pre-approved entry standard of 4.70M. If fewer than 12 manage to hit the automatic qualifying mark, the next highest-ranked athletes from the qualifiers, up to a total of at least 12, will be included in the final on Wednesday, Aug. 7th. 

Of the 30 women in the competition, King’s season best of 4.73M puts her in a tie for 9th of the 30 women’s season bests. All of the women ahead of her all are ranked in the top 14 of the world, so King is peaking at the best time of her career.

The field includes three Americans, three vaulters from both Greece and New Zealand, and several others including former Texas State University vaulter Anicka Newell who represents Canada. To preview the field of Women’s Pole Vault and to see the Qualification results visit: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/athletics/women-s-pole-vault/qual--------

 

Fly Back to the Beginning

King spent much of her youth in competitive cheer and excelled as a flyer. For years, she went from soaring heights, usually in creative positions, and was used to falling and the adrenaline rush after completing the skill.

 Fast forward to high school at Concordia. In her freshman season at CLHS in 2015-2016, King debuted her many track talents by winning the TAPPS 5A State Title in Long Jump with a mark of 17’ 2½“. She also placed 4th in the 200M and was a member of the 4x400M Relay and the 4x100M Relays that placed 6th and 8th at State respectively. The Crusaders team finished in 6th place overall that season.

In her sophomore and junior seasons, King did not make it back to the State Track Meet and dealt with some injuries including having hip flexor surgery. However, she officially began pole vaulting during her junior year in 2018 under the encouragement and guidance of former CLHS Head Track Coach, Jacob Vasquez. Vasquez faithfully served CLHS for almost 20 years as a teacher and coach and had this to say about King:   

“After Brynn won the state championship in long jump her freshman year, I casually mentioned that she would be a great pole vaulter. Her athleticism paired with her cheer background gave her the elements to be successful at pole vault.

Brynn was arguably the best athlete we had ever seen, boy or girl at CLHS. But Brynn did not and still does not depend on her talent. She is a tireless worker who has embraced the technical side of Pole Vault. But again, Brynn has overcome many major injuries to be where she is at today. She is the epitome of resilience and would be a great resource for anyone who has struggled with injuries.

After her four-year career at Duke University, she was noticed by one of the greatest pole vaulters in American history, Jenn Suhr. [Suhr is a three-time Olympian and Olympic gold and silver medalist in women’s pole vault and the coach of pole vault at Robert’s Wesleyan University.] Under Coach Suhr and RWU’s coaches tutelage, Brynn has blossomed into a world class pole vaulter.

Brynn has worked very hard for this moment, and I can’t wait to see what she does at the Olympics, but even more so what she does on the world stage in the future.” -Jacob Vasquez

During her senior year at Concordia in 2018-2019, King roared back on the TAPPS track scene with some impressive performances including winning the Pole Vault competition (less than 18 months from learning the event) with a mark of 13’ 1”. With that jump, she set a new TAPPS record that still stands to this day as no girl had ever cleared 13’ before.

In addition to the Pole Vault state title, in 2019 King was also a member of the State Champion 4x100M Relay for the Crusaders with a time of 48.32. Finally, she also finished in 7th place at State in the 100M with a time of 12.57. These impressive results helped the Girls Track & Field team to claim TAPPS 6A State Runner-Up in 2019!

(https://tx.milesplit.com/meets/338206-tapps-state-championship-2019/results/651328/formatted/) 

 

Life after Concordia: Duke and RWU

 Following clearing 13’, King had opportunities to continue pole vaulting at the next level and ultimate chose to attend Duke University for Women’s Track & Field (Pole Vault) from 2019-2023.

Her freshman season for the Blue Devils was cut short due to COVID but she continued to develop with season best marks of the following:

  • 2021 - 4.22M (13‘ 10”)
  • 2022 - 4.10M (13’ 5¼“)
  • 2023 - 4.20M (13’ 9¼“)

After graduating from undergrad at Duke, King chose to transfer for her fifth year to attend Roberts Wesleyan University (NCAA DII institution in Rochester, NY and their mascot is the Redhawks) from 2023-2024.

While at RWU, King performed exceptionally well in several pole-vaulting events in 2024:

  • NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships - National Champion with a jump of 4.65M
  • USA Indoor Championships – placed 7th with a jump of 4.50M
  • NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships - National Champion with a jump of 4.60M

These successes along with the renowned coaching of Jen Suhr, earned King an invitation to the US Olympic Trials for a dream spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics.

 

Next Up: US Olympic Trials

US Olympic Trials (Eugene, OR) June 21-30, 2024

To make it to the US Olympic Trials in Pole Vault, the qualifying standards was a minimum clearance of 4.30M. There was an automatic qualifying standard of 4.60M. The field was set with 24 vaulters from all over the country and there would be two rounds.

(https://www.flotrack.org/articles/12558127-qualifying-standards-for-the-us-olympic-trials-2024) 

US Olympic Trials Day 1 progression:

  • Skipped 4.20M
  • Cleared 4.35M in first jump
  • Missed 4.50M on all three jumps
  • King and Bridget Williams (who ended up being top qualifier) were two of the last three vaulters to make the Finals on Day 2
  • After Day 1, King was tied for 11th out of 24 vaulters. 

US Olympic Trials Day 2 progression:

  • Started Day 2 in 11th position
  • Cleared 4.28M in first jump
  • Skipped 4.43M
  • Missed 4.53M in first jump but cleared it in second jump
  • Missed 4.63M in first jump and then coaches decided to save legs by skipping height
  • Skipped 4.68M again to save legs for 4.73M
  • Cleared 4.73M (personal best) on first jump!
  • Missed 4.78M on first and only attempt but was guaranteed 3rd place as four other vaulters failed to clear 4.73M!

 

Reaching new heights

Over the years, King’s consistently improved her personal bests. Listed below are her personal bests by year. It truly is incredible to think that she has only been doing this sport for seven years and she is one of the best in the world!

King’s Pole Vaulting Personal Bests by year:

  • 2018 - 3.54M (11’ 7¼“)
  • 2019 - 3.99M (13’ 1”)
  • 2020 - No contest due to COVID (FR year at Duke)
  • 2021 - 4.22M (13‘ 10”)
  • 2022 - 4.10M (13’ 5¼“)
  • 2023 - 4.20M (13’ 9¼“)
  • 2024 - 4.68M (15’ 4¼“) but ultimately jumped 4.73M (15’ 6¼“) at the Olympic Trials

  

Final Stop: Paris for the 2024 Olympics

King has been in Paris since the end of July working with her coaches and the other Team USA track and field athletes including Bridget Williams and Katie Moon (Tokyo Gold Medalist) who finished 1st and 2nd respectively at the US Trials.

Anything can happen in Track & Field, including field events that include an apparatus. Going into the qualification stage, King has a good chance to make it to the final 12 and we wish her nothing but the best of luck. The entire Concordia community is extremely proud of her dedication, resilience, and God-given talent that she is putting on display for the nation and the world to see.

This past week, we caught up with Cara King, Brynn’s mother, who had these closing remarks to share:

 “We have been fortunate to see her as she has continued to train here in Paris this last wek. Practices have been focused and centered on the physical and mental sides of the event. Brynn has continued to get reps in and focus on the technical elements through drills. Brynn is fortunate to have the support of so many friends and family. The outpouring has been unbelievable. Thank you for your prayers and go Team USA!”

Let’s Go USA and Brynn King! We are so proud of you and good luck and fly high!

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