News

August 7, 2024

DII Pole Vault Champions took parallel paths to the Olympics

A decade separates pole vaulters Katie Moon and Brynn King's college experiences, but they share a unique path to reach the Olympic Games.

Both track and field stars started at a Division I program before becoming dissatisfied with their performances. To find a spark, they each transferred to Division II programs. After doing so, they experienced an immediate resurgence and saw a dramatic change in their career trajectories.

On August 5 in Paris, Moon and King stood on the Stade de France field in Paris — a roaring crowd of 80,000 fans cheering — as they prepared for the pole vault's qualifying round. Once searching for career fulfillment, Division II provided a path to resurgence.

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Photo credit: Joey Conti for King's image

Photo of Moon: from ncaa.org/news