The Elite Girls flight at the Expo Explosion is going to be phenomenal. At last year's event , we saw five girls vault 13-1 or better. The flight was highlighted by twin sisters Hana Moll and Amanda Moll going first and second. Hanna jumped 14-6 and Amanda cleared 13-6.
Returning are Molly Haywood, Skyler Schuller, and Rachel Homoly, all who tied for third by clearing 13-1. Joining that trio are 12 girls who have all cleared 13 feet and will be looking to better that mark this weekend as they search for the Expo win.
Here are the Elite Girls competitors:
Skyler Schuller (Coppell HS, TX)
The Stanford commit will only compete in selective events this season as she is focused on competing late into the year. She competed at the Texas Express Holiday Classic on December 17th when she jumped a 12-3.75. The Coppell senior had seven meets last outdoor season where she jumped 13-6 or higher including two 14-0 meets. She is the 2022 Texas UIL 6A runner-up.
Caressa (Ella) Vajdos (New Braunfels HS, TX)
Texas A&M commit and UIL 6A third place finisher at the 2022 state meet, Vajdos is coming off a season where she had PRs of 12-8 indoors and 13-3.50 last season. The New Braunfels senior jumped well here last year and could be looking for another PR meet.
Jacqueline Rose (Keller HS, TX)
The Keller junior had an excellent sophomore season. She vaulted 11-8 at the Expo last season, but then catapulted from there. Rose was jumping 12-6 by championship season and was consistent with it to make it to state and finish fifth. She saved her best for last when she jumped at the MAC Vault Academy's Summer National Championships, going for a 13-1.50 PR.
Kourtney Rathke (Peak to Peak Charter, CO)
Lafayette, Co junior Rathke will arrive in Belton full steam ahead. She has already jumped 12-7.50 and 13-0 this month; the latter, which ties her for US No. 2 this indoor season. Last outdoor season, she won the Colorado state meet and had a 13-1 PR on the season. The pole vault state title added to her total of four state meet medals including a long jump state title, runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles, and a third place in the triple jump.
Alencia Lentz (Fischer Canyon Lake HS, TX)
Lentz was third last year at this event when she jumped 12-8. She eventually jumped 13-2 indoors, which led to her eventual 13-6 PR and the UIL 4A state title. With her 13-2 indoors last year and five outdoor meets 13-0 or better, Lentz could go 13-0 or higher this weekend.
Lilly Nichols (Broomfield HS, CO)
As a freshman two years ago, Nichols won her flight at the Expo when she jumped 13-0. She went on to win two Colorado state championships in the pole vault. She returns to the Expo this year, but she'll bring her 13-4 PR looking to improve on that this weekend and take another win back to Colorado.
Kashlee Dickinson (Canyon HS, TX)
Last year, Dickinson only jumped 12-2 at the Expo. That was one of few meets she didn't clear 13-0. She PRed with a 13-0 clearance at the Air Force High School Indoor Open and then added several outdoor jumps over the height. Dickinson ended things with a 13-6 PR when the season was complete along with a runner-up finish at the UIL 4A state meet.
Aspen Fears (Vista Murrieta, CA)
Fears cleared 11-2 last year at the Expo. She went on to jump 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3 before the end of the season. The California junior returns to Belton this weekend and could be looking to improve on last year's Expo performance.
Alexandra Harber (McKinney North HS, TX)
Harber jumped 11-8 at last year's Expo meet. However, that was just the beginning as things looked way up the rest of the season. She went on to add her second UIL 5A state title in the pole vault and she cleared 13-6 at the MAC Vault Academy's Summer National Championships for a PR. A third place medal in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.17 at the state meet was the cherry on top for the season.
Molly Haywood (Tomball Memorial HS, TX)
Haywood was a US top-10 vaulter last year both the indoor and outdoor season. Her 13-0 at the Mac Vault Bob Crites Invitational back in November ties her with Rathke for US No. 2 in the indoor rankings. At last year's Expo, Haywood jumped 13-1.5 to finish third and went on to clear 13-3.50 indoors. The Baylor commit went 14-4 at the UIL 6A - Region 2 to become the TX No. 2 all-time vaulter. She later added a 14-3 to win the UIL 6A state title. If Haywood finds her rhythm this weekend we could see some big time vaulting.
Rachel Homoly (Liberty HS, MO)
Arkansas commit Homoly wakes up and jumps 13 feet. Last season, she only had two meets that were under 13-0, one indoors and one outdoors. Homoly has 14-0 PRs both indoors and outdoors and was US top 6 in both seasons. With two Missouri state titles and the state record, Homoly will be jumping to leave her mark on the national level this season.
Katelyn Hulsey (Northwest Rankin, MS)
Last year, Hulsey cleared 11-8 at the Expo; she went on to jump a 13-1.75 PR to win the Mississippi state championship. She already jumped 11-6 at the Magic City Invitational #2 earlier this month.
Megan Kelleghan (Silver Creek HS, CO)
Colorado state champion and North Carolina commit, Kelleghan will make her first appearance at the Expo, but she is no stranger to indoor vaulting. She had two meets over 13-0 last year including a 13-3.50 PR at New Balance Nationals Indoor where she finished third. Kelleghan will fit right in with the elite girls flight this weekend.
Addison Kleinke (Eugene, OR)
Kleinke will be one of the youngest competitors in the elite girls competition. The freshman won her Intermediate Girls flight at last year's Expo with a 11-4 jump. However, don't overlook Kleinke as she jumped 13-1 last indoor season to win the WSTC Winter Vault.
Anna Willis (The Classical Academy, CO)
As a sophomore, Willis jumped 12-1.75 at last year's Expo; however, she ended the indoor season jumping 13-6 and then adding a Colorado indoor state title at 13-1.25. The Colorado Springs native added a runner-up finish at the outdoor stat meet and then the Great Southwest Track & Field Classic win. Willis can clearly jump high and compete well in big meets; she should be entertaining to watch this weekend.