Molly Haywood Takes U20 Pole Vault World Championship Gold

Molly Haywood has been a champion before, however, now she is the champion of the World!

The Tomball Memorial HS grad and upcoming Baylor sophomore jumped her way onto Team USA's U20 World Championship team earlier this summer when she vaulted 14-5.25 at the USATF U20 Championships. She just missed making the USA Olympic team and decided to take her spot on the U20 squad.

Last night that decision paid off when she cleared a personal best height of 14 feet and 8 inches to win the Gold Medal. That clearance also moves her up to No. 7 all-time in the USA under the age 20.

Haywood has now enjoyed success in the pole vault for a number of years. She won the UIL 6A state title in 2022 and just last year won the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Her freshman season at Baylor also saw her finish third indoors at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and ninth at the NCAA Championships. To go along with her conference outdoor title, she was fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.