Former South Dakota pole vaulter Chris Nilsen wins U.S. Olympic trials

Jun. 22—EUGENE, Ore. — If someone told Chris Nilsen he was going to be an Olympian five years ago, the answer would have been succinct.

"I would have said that's stupid, don't ever tell me that again."

When Nilsen competed in his first United States Olympic trials as an 18-year-old in 2016, his top goal was to get a photo with American pole vault record holder Sam Kendricks.

He got the photo and developed a friendship with the former world champion, and on Monday, beat him to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Olympic pole vault begins July 31.

The former University of South Dakota three-time national champion won the U.S. Olympic trials with a vault of 19 feet, 4 1/4 inches and was the lone vaulter to successfully clear his first six attempts.

Nilsen edged Kendricks — the 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist — and KC Lightfoot, who broke Nilsen's NCAA Division I indoor pole vault record this season for Baylor. Both cleared 19 feet, 2 1/4 inches. The top-three finishers qualified for the Olympics.

Things you love to see:

⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕@ChrisNilsen2 x #GoYotes pic.twitter.com/4HSEf15f47

— South Dakota Track & Field / Cross Country (@SDCoyotesXCTF) June 22, 2021

"If you asked me a year ago if I would have made the Olympic trials, the answer immediately would have been no and if you asked me this morning, I would have said, 'I don't know. Maybe not,'" Nilsen said. "I know we had been jumping pretty consistently over (19 feet), so I knew we had a shot. ... It was the best competition I've been a part of in a long time."

The Kansas City native, who turned pro in 2020 and still trains in Vermillion, has cleared 19 feet four times in 2021 and at one point had the top mark in the world — 19 feet 4 3/4 on May 10 — but he was facing a skilled field at the trials.

In 2016, the third-place vault was 18 feet, 4 1/2 inches, but that was the qualifying height for the finals this year and five vaulters cleared 19 feet, while Kendricks was the lone person to do so in 2016.

"Everybody thinks they can come out and jump (20 feet), but there's a reason only (16) guys have ever done it in the history of pole vault," Nilsen said. "I didn't used to think clearing 19 was hard, but now every time I do it, I'm excited because it's a hard thing to do."

After winning the event, Nilsen took three attempts at 6 meters (more than 20 feet), which would have exceeded his personal record of 19 feet, 6 inches, but came up short.

.. and headed to #Tokyo2020!

Nilsen wins the pole vault in 19-4 1/4 (5.90m).#GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota pic.twitter.com/GPV07eSVCc

— South Dakota Track & Field / Cross Country (@SDCoyotesXCTF) June 22, 2021

Winning or medaling at the Olympics could take such a vault, as Sweden and former LSU vaulter Armand Duplantis has the top vault (20.18 feet) in the world this year.

"I know (20 feet) is hard," Nilsen said. "Sam Kendricks has done it multiple times because he's a fabulous athlete. KC Lightfoot has done it once in indoor because he's a fabulous athlete. It's just going to take a little more training, a little more training and fine-tuning and we'll get there. If it doesn't happen this year, then hopefully soon."

Collegiately, Nilsen finished third or better in his six NCAA national championship meets (indoor and outdoor, while taking second at the 2018 USA Outdoor Championships and third in at the event in 2017.

But he tied for 18th at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2016 and acknowledged the Olympic trials were a bigger stage and often laid awake for more than an hour each night leading up to the competition.

"I've been thinking about this day specifically for about five years and even more so for the last two months," Nilsen said. "This is just a bigger stage and I'm glad to come out on top."