Former Green High School standout Kelsie Ahbe advanced to the finals of the women’s pole vault at the Summer Olympic Games on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Ahbe, who competed at the University of Indiana, tied for eighth with a qualifying vault of a personal-best 4.55 meters.
“I feel like I executed very well,” Ahbe said. “I was maintaining focus on the things I needed to do to be successful. My goal for the final is that I want to continue maintaining focus on my two cues, and executing properly.”
Ahbe will attempt to win an Olympic medal in the finals on Friday.
The top seven qualifiers all cleared the bar at 4.6 meters.
Ahbe earned a berth on the Olympic team with a personal-best of 4.5 meters at the Canadian Olympic Trials.
Former UA pole vaulter Annika Roloff finished 21st and failed to advance to the finals.
Competing for Germany, Roloff vaulted 4.45 meters (14-7¼) on her third and final attempt at the mark. She missed three attempts at 4.55 meters (14-11).
“Annika was performing well out there,” UA coach Dennis Mitchell said. “She looked great at 14-7 as she cleared it by a lot. Most years that would have been enough to make it to the next round. However, this year it took some big bars. This year internationally women’s pole vaulting is very deep. What an honor for her to be here at the games. She will always be called an Olympian.”