Sandi Morris and Tina Sutej, both NCAA pole vault champions at Arkansas, advanced to the final in Friday night’s qualifying round at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Morris, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist competing for the U.S., was among 11 vaulters who cleared 14 feet, 9 inches at Oregon's Hayward Field. Sutej, competing for Slovenia, cleared 14-3 1/4 to tie for 12th.
Morris, 30, twice has won the gold medal at the World Indoor Championships and twice has been a silver medalist at the World Outdoors. She is the world leader in this season with a clearance of 15-9 3/4 to win at the USA Championships.
Sutej, 33, was the bronze medalist at this year's World Indoor Championships, where Morris won the gold medal.
Ryan Crouser, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the shot-put for the U.S. and an Arkansas volunteer assistant coach, led all qualifiers with a toss of 73-1 1/4.
Wayne Pinnock, an Arkansas newcomer who transferred from Tennessee and is competing for Jamaica, advanced to the long jump final by going 26-2 1/4 to place 10th in the qualifying round.
Former Razorback LaQuan Nairn, competing for the Bahamas, finished 18th, going 25-7 1/4.