Hempfield grad wins Pan Am gold in pole vault

Bill Beckner | Friday, November 3, 2023 5:57 p.m.

Virginia Athletics

Hempfield graduate Bridget (Guy) Williams competes for Virginia during her collegiate career.

Already a world-class athlete, Bridget (Guy) Williams became a world champion with a victory at the Pan Am Games.

The Hempfield and Virginia alum soared to a gold medal in the pole vault Friday at Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Santiago, Chile with a vault of 4.6 meters (15 feet, 1 inch).

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Team USATF hauled in six medals on day four at the track at #Santiago2023 ????????????

Erin Marsh and Jordan Gray went 1-3 in the heptathlon and Bridget Williams won the pole vault ????

????: @teamusa, Rodrigo Contreras/Panam Sports via Xpress Media pic.twitter.com/CKusyexZHW

— USATF (@usatf) November 3, 2023

An American women had not won the pole vault at the event since 2003.

A former WPIAL and PIAA champion and college All-American, Williams is a member of the United States team that will compete in the World Athletics Championships Aug. 19-27 in Budapest.

Congratulations @bridget_guy‼️

Pan American Games ????in the Pole Vault!

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— Hempfield Area Track and Field (@HempfieldAreaTF) November 3, 2023