Irwin finishes 6th at U.S. Olympic Trials

Former Arkansas pole vaulter Andrew Irwin competes at the American League Track meet on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at the Randal Tyson Center in Fayetteville.

Andrew Irwin, a former University of Arkansas two-time NCAA champion from Mount Ida, finished sixth in the pole vault final Monday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., with a best clearance of 18-10 1/4.

It was the highest finish for a former Razorback in the men's pole vault at the Trials.

Irwin cleared his first attempts at 17-10 1/2, 18-4 1/2, 18-8 1/4 and 18-10 1/4 at Hayward Field before missing three times at 19-0 1/4.

Former Arkansas All-American Taylor Werner finished 11th in the 5,000 meters final in 15:56.83 after leading through the first 3,000.

Nikki Hiltz, also a former All-American for the Razorbacks, was 13th in the 1,500 meters final in 4:10.09. Hiltz will run in the 800 meters later this week.

Bennett Pascoe, an Arkansas State University junior from Conway, was 27th in the preliminaries of the 3,000-meter steeplechase and ran 8:56.83.