KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City had two local pole vaulters competing in the Olympic final in Tokyo.
Chris Nilsen, a 23-year-old Park Hill grad, ended up making it to the podium with a personal best vault of 5.97 meters.
That earned him the silver medal.
He was bested by a 21-year-old Louisiana-born Swedish competitor, Armand Duplantis, who vaulted 6.02 meters and holds the world record of 6.18 meters.
Brazil took the bronze through Olympic-record holder Thiago Braz, the vaulter who took gold in Rio.
KC Lightfootof Lee's Summit was performing well but was eliminated at the 5.87-meter height. He tied for fourth place.
To qualify for the final, both vaulters jumped 5.75 meters.
Lightfoot's family got up early to host a watch party and support KC, despite not being able to be in Tokyo.
