Rue Tops Rains in Pole Vault Clash

Gopher sophomore Alicia Rue, the Pan American Junior Games gold medalist last year, topped Minnesota State - Mankato's Katelin Rains, Division II's all-time best pole vaulter, in a clash between two of event's top young stars on Saturday.

At the U of M's Minnesota Open meet, Rue cleared a Gopher record 13-5 1/4 to win over Rains who vaulted 13-1 1/2.

Rue (pictured) needed two attempts to clear her opening height of 12-1 1/2 as well as two at 13-1 1/2 before being the only vaulter to over-fly 13-5 1/4. Rains opened at 12-7 1/2 and sported a clear score sheet until her undoing at the winning height.

The clearance is another NCAA Division I Nationals provisional qualifying mark for Rue who improved upon the 12-11 1/2 she opened the season with last week. Off of that performance, Rue was named one of the Big Ten Athletes of the Week last week.

Rains, a junior who vaulted 14-0 1/2 in December to set the D2 all-time mark, finished 6th at the Reno Pole Vault Summit two weeks ago with a 12-11 1/2 clearance.

Gophers took 3rd through 6th places in the vault this weekend. Senior Andrea Smith, third at 13-1 1/2 also made the D1 "provo" qualifying standard.

Full women's results from the Minnesota Open can be found HERE.

Full men's results are HERE.

Photo courtesy of the U of M.