Leon Punches Ticket to World Athletics Indoor Championships
February 22, 2025 | Track & Field
The 2022 graduate of UofL finished as the runner-up in the women’s pole vault at the USATF Indoor Championships with a mark of 4.65m (13-3).
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – University of Louisville women's track & field alumna Gabriela Leon clinched a spot on Team USA at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships after finishing as the national runner-up in the women's pole vault on Saturday at the USATF Indoor Championships.
Leon, a 2022 graduate of UofL and a current program volunteer on the Cardinals' coaching staff, cleared a final bar of 4.65m (15-3) to earn a spot on the indoor world championship team for the first time in her career.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Leon made her third appearance at the national indoor meet count, posting a clean sheet through the first five heights she attempted before narrowly missing on three attempts at her personal-best height of 4.70m.
Leon will now begin preparation for the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will take place from Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 23 in Nanjing, China.
In addition to Leon's championship-qualifying performance, Natalie Lark and Ashley Callahan both made their first career appearances at the USATF Indoor Championships on Saturday afternoon. Lark placed seventh and Callahan finished eighth in the women's pole vault, as both ended the competition with a final clearance of 4.30m (14-1.25).
Lark, Callahan and the rest of the Cardinals will return to action next weekend for the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which are set to take place from Mar. 1-3 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
Leon, a 2022 graduate of UofL and a current program volunteer on the Cardinals' coaching staff, cleared a final bar of 4.65m (15-3) to earn a spot on the indoor world championship team for the first time in her career.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Leon made her third appearance at the national indoor meet count, posting a clean sheet through the first five heights she attempted before narrowly missing on three attempts at her personal-best height of 4.70m.
Leon will now begin preparation for the World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will take place from Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 23 in Nanjing, China.
In addition to Leon's championship-qualifying performance, Natalie Lark and Ashley Callahan both made their first career appearances at the USATF Indoor Championships on Saturday afternoon. Lark placed seventh and Callahan finished eighth in the women's pole vault, as both ended the competition with a final clearance of 4.30m (14-1.25).
Lark, Callahan and the rest of the Cardinals will return to action next weekend for the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which are set to take place from Mar. 1-3 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
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