Posted: September 16, 2004

Athletics: Dragila winning first women's Olympic pole vault named 14th top moment

Stacy Dragila winning the first-ever women's Olympic pole vault gold medal was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 14th greatest moment in U.S. track and field history in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

The women's vault was a featured event of the Sydney Olympics, where women's sports took center stage across different Olympic venues. With her win, Dragila cemented her place in Olympic history, entrenching herself as the top trailblazer in the women's vault. Her gold medal helped inspire thousands of young girls to take up pole vaulting and fueled its explosive popularity.

Having already won the first ever women's World Indoor title in 1997 and World Outdoor title in1999, Stacy Dragila entered the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney as a heavy favorite to win the gold medal. She did not disappoint.

Dragila, who established the world record of 4.63 meters/15 feet, 2.25 inches in winning the 2000 Olympic Trials in Sacramento, faced a scare in Sydney when she failed to clear 4.50m/14-9 on her first two tries. After sailing over that height on her final attempt, Dragila went on to win the gold medal with her clearance of 4.50m/15-1.

In breaking the women's world pole vault record on five occasions in 2000 (three indoors, two outdoors), Dragila ended the season ranked #1 in the world and was presented with USATF's prestigious Jesse Owens Award as the nation's most outstanding women's athlete that year.

Suggestions for USATF's Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF' Top 25 Moments, visit www.usatf.org.

USATF Top 25 Moments 
25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee breaks 7,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
24. Khalid Khannouchi sets men's world marathon record in 2002.
23. Alan Webb sets U.S. boys' high school mile record.
22. Kevin Young breaks Edwin Moses' world record.
21. Lynn Jennings wins third World Cross Country title.
20. Alberto Salazar wins third consecutive New York City Marathon.
19. Flo-Jo sets women's 200m world record.
18. Gail Devers successfully defends Olympic 100m women's title.
17. Evelyn Ashford defeats two world record holders at 1979 World Cup.
16. Michael Carter sets national prep shot put record.
15. Valerie Brisco wins four gold medals at 1984 Olympic Games.
14. Stacy Dragila wins first ever women's Olympic pole vault.

From USATF.org.