Leleux finishes second at Olympic Trials to earn spot on Team USA

The third time – in more ways than one – turned out to be the charm for Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Track and Field alum Morgann Leleux. The New Iberia native, former All-American at the University of Georgia and 2016 All-American at Louisiana cleared 15 feet, 5 inches on her final attempt in the women’s pole vault to finish second overall at the U.S. Track and Field Trials on Saturday at historic Hayward Field.

After failing to qualify at the 2012 Trials and finishing fourth overall – ultimately serving as the alternate for the 2016 U.S. Team – Leleux secured her spot in the lineup for the Tokyo Summer Games, which begins on July 23, by matching her personal-best. Leleux, the Ragin’ Cajuns and Sun Belt Conference record-holder in pole vault (15-1), breezed through her first three jumps, clearing 14-3 ¼, 14-9 and 15-1 each on her first attempt before missing on her first two attempts at 15-5.

With NIKE’s Katie Nageotte the first to clear the top mark of the night, Leleux solidified her spot on the team by clearing the bar on final attempt and becoming the eighth Ragin’ Cajuns athlete to qualify for the Summer Games.

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