US pole vaulter Hana Moll soared into the Wanda Diamond League Final with a brilliant personal best of 4.90m at the city event in Zurich on Wednesday evening.
In front of a 3000-strong crowd at Zurich’s central train station, Moll overcame early struggles to win a thrilling battle with home favourite Angelica Moser and claim her second successive Diamond League win.
“I think I have to attribute my competition and my PB to how amazing this environment is. This is the most amazing crowd I’ve ever been in. I am really happy with how the season has gone,” said Moll.
Just five days after claiming the first Diamond League win of her career in Lausanne, Moll looked out of sorts at the opening heights in Zurich.
The 21-year-old took three attempts to clear both 4.50m and 4.65m, before finally finding her rhythm with a first-time clearance at 4.75m and second-attempt success at 4.85m.
Moser then also cleared the height on her second jump, raising the train station roof with a new Swiss indoor record.
The roar was almost as loud a few minutes later when Moll cleared 4.90m at the first attempt, setting a new personal best.
With that, Moser had to settle for second while Sandi Moris came in third with 4.75m.
Morris, who had suggested she was approaching five-metre form at the press conference on Tuesday, maintained a perfect card up to 4.75m before failing her first two attempts at 4.85m.
After passing to 4.90m for her final jump, the American only just clipped the bar at the winning height.
Victory saw Moll book her place in the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels next week, with Moser, Katie Moon, Tina Sutej and Imogen Ayris also qualifying.
