Professional Pole Vault at Jordan Creek Mall

For the second time in a three-year span, Jordan Creek Town Center will host an elite-level pole vault competition indoors on Monday, April 20, beginning at 6:00 p.m. as part of the 116th Drake Relays. The men's field for the Vault at Jordan Creek will include the current American record-holder and an Olympic silver medalist going head-to-head while the women's division is set to feature the top two athletes in the world. "Vault at Jordan Creek is such a special showcase of athletic excellence and community engagement, and we're excited to see this elite indoor pole vault competition return," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Blake Boldon said. "Hosting world-class athletes in a unique indoor venue highlights the very best of our sport while inspiring young athletes and giving fans a front-row seat to unforgettable performances. The return of this event strengthens our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for competitors, spectators, and the entire community." The women's field at Vault at Jordan Creek will showcase a handful of superb vaulters including the top two ranked athletes in the world. Katie Moon, the current world No. 1, will be in Jordan Creek Town Center. Moon boasts the second-best American jump of all-time at 4.95m/16-2.75. She was a 2021 Olympic champion in Tokyo and more recently took the silver medal in Paris. Moon will go head-to-head with world No. 2 Sandi Morris, who was announced yesterday as a 2026 Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame inductee. Morris holds the American record and has captured six Relays titles in 2016-19, 2021, and the Capital Square Pole Vault crown in 2016. She was an Olympic silver medalist that same year and earned four World Championships during her career. The women's field is also highlighted by 2026 US Indoor runner-up Emily Grove, who qualified for the 2025 World Indoor Championships. Grove has a long history of jumping at Drake both as a professional competitor and collegiate star at the University of South Dakota. Reigning men's division champion KC Lightfoot will be returning to Des Moines to defend his Vault at Jordan Creek crown. Lightfoot currently holds the American men's record at 6.07m/19-11, a mark set in 2023. He finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the same year he won the NCAA Indoor title while at Baylor University. Lightfoot is tied atop the collegiate all-time list with current world record holder and Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis. Six-time U.S. champion Chris Nilsen will be part of the loaded men's field. Nilsen, like Emily Grove, was a standout at South Dakota and ranks third all-time among American men with a 6.05m/19-10.25 indoor leap. Nilsen is a 2-time Olympian with a silver medal in 2021. He also was a Drake Relays champion in 2022, his last visit to Des Moines. Zach Bradford is also among the highlights of the men's field. Bradford has qualified for World Outdoor Championships twice and won the US Indoor title in 2026. A selection of the elite vaulters will also compete outdoors at Drake Stadium during the afternoon session on Saturday, April 25. 2026 marks the first time in two years that the Drake Relays has hosted an indoor pole vault event at the Jordan Creek Town Center. The 2024 edition coincided with the mall's 20th anniversary and marked the end of a 10-year hiatus of the event. The Drake Relays will partner with Catch Des Moines to host the Vault at Jordan Creek. "Drake Relays is one of our city's most iconic and impactful events," said Trina Flack, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines. We are excited to partner on the Vault at Jordan Creek Town Center, which allows us to showcase a vibrant fun area of our community to visitors while giving residents a fun and unique way to experience the excitement of the Relays."