EUGENE, Oregon -- Air Force Academy graduate Cale Simmons celebrated the Fourth of July by claiming a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
He earned a place on the Team USA pole-vault squad after finishing second at the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The 2013 Academy graduate entered the competition on the opening height, clearing 17'8½" on his first attempt. He cleared 18'0½" and 18'4½" on second attempts, securing the runner-up finish by making the 18'6½" bar on his first try.
Simmons will be joined on the Team USA pole-vault squad by Sam Kendricks, who won the national meet with a height of 19'4¾", and Logan Cunningham, who placed third with a height of 18'4½".
The Air Force pole vault squad finished sixth with a clearance of 18'4½".
Dylan Bell, the most recent Academy graduate competing, cleared the opening bar of 17'8½" on his first attempt. He cleared the second bar, 18'0½", on his third try, while making 18'4½" on his second attempt.
Joey Uhle, a 2015 Academy graduate, was unable to clear the opening height of 17'8½". After a narrow miss on his first attempt, Uhle's pole snapped during his second try. He was able to retry that attempt, but unable to clear his final two tries at that height.