High Point's Sydney Horn Breaks U23 NACAC Record for Gold
By High Point Athletics
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA — Sydney Horn continues to etch her name into the history books.
On Friday, the astounding High Point University pole vaulter awed all in attendance behind her record-breaking performance that earned her an USA gold medal at the U23 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Championships held in San Jose, Costa Rica.
"Sydney shows yet again championship vaulting is her favorite thing to do," HPU Pole Vault Coach Scott Houston said, "so coming out here to Costa Rica with a little bit of adverse conditions and still getting the job done at a high level and setting a NACAC record is something speculator.
"All the training and hours she's put into it just led up to this moment, where she gets to enjoy all the benefits of her hard work and wear USA across her chest and hold the American flag on the podium. She should be nothing less than proud and we are so proud of her at High Point."
Horn's 4.41 clearance broke Sandi Morris' record to put her atop the podium and the U23 NACAC record book for the highest jump. She cleared the 4.05m and 4.15m bar in two attempts before using three attempts on the 4.25m bar to set herself up for history.
Taking three chances at the 4.41m bar, Horn cleared and waved to the crowd grinning ear-to-ear as she knew the gold was hers. It's a feat that her coach, Scott Houston, also achieved in 2018 when he was crowned the NACAC champion of the senior division. Houston and Drew Sanchez, Deputy AD, was there representing HPU and cheering on from the stands.
Horn was joined by Canada's Heather Abadie (second place) and Costa Rica's Vielka Paola Arias Mora (third place) on the podium. Horn was the only competitor to reach the 4.41m bar. El Salvador's Andrea Paola Machuca Gochez and United States' Hana Moll rounded out the five vaulters.