Megan Clark misses spot on team for Rio Olympics

Megan Clark’s dreams of a place on the U.S. Olympic track and field team came up short on Sunday afternoon at Hayward Field.

The former Columbus High standout missed all three of her attempts at 4.65 meters (15-feet, 3-inches) and finished tied for fifth.

Three made that height — Sandi Morris, Alexis Weeks and Jenn Suhr — and qualified to compete in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next month.

Clark, who recently graduated from Duke, was one of 14 vaulters who made it through qualifying on Friday night.

Ten made the first height Sunday, which was 4.40. Clark made it although she needed three tries.

All 10 made 4.50 with Clark clearing the bar on her first attempt.

Six cleared 4.60, including Suhr, who passed on the first two heights.

Clark again needed all three of her tries to clear 4.60.

But she couldn’t clear 4.65, missing on all three attempts.

That would have been a new personal best for her. Clark cleared 4.63 in winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in April. That was a school and conference record.

Clark said before the Olympic trials started that she would head to El Salvador for the North American, Central American and Caribbean outdoor championships.

This story was originally published July 10, 2016 at 9:53 PM with the headline "Megan Clark misses spot on team for Rio Olympics."