British pole vaulter sets a world leading mark and championships record at UK Indoor Championships

Talk of Molly Caudery winning global medals is now starting to come into the conversation, after she claimed yet another personal best in the pole vault.

Those who stayed in their seats until the very end of the action on the first day of the UK Indoor Championships were not disappointed, with Caudery clearing 4.85m on her third attempt.

Cauderys facial expression of astonishment when shed conquered 4.85m told a thousand words.

Not only was it a championships record but the first world lead by a British athlete in any event at a UK Indoor Championships since Nicola Sanders ran 50.60 over 400m in 2007.

Caudery will now hope she can challenge for the biggest medals on the global stage.

Based on the evidence so far, you wouldnt bet against her.

The 23-year-old, who finished fifth in her first ever world pole vault final in Budapest and claimed silver at the Commonwealth Games, had a best in the pole vault of 4.60m only two years ago. Last year, she improved that to 4.75m but has excelled even more in 2024.

In just a month and half into this season, shes cleared heights of 4.75m, 4.83m and now 4.85m. The consistency around those heights is what excites Caudery the most and nothing is off the table.

Its unbelievable, she says. I came into this season wanting to jump a 4.80m bar and to have cleared 4.75m, 4.83m and 4.85m in my first three competitions is just way beyond where I thought I was but its so exciting for the future.

The World Indoors is one event which Im really excited for as its just a couple of weeks away and Im in really good shape. I want to jump as high as I can and if I can replicate a 4.85m vault then I know a medal could be on the table.

In regards to the Paris Olympics, its a lot longer away and I dont want to take anything for granted. I want to stay healthy, hopefully make it to the start line and then just see what happens there.

Caudery doesnt have to go far for inspiration. Holly Bradshaw claimed Great Britains first ever Olympic pole vault medal in Tokyo three years ago and is the British record-holder with 4.90m.

The fact that Caudery attempted a height of 4.91m at the UK Indoor Championships speaks volumes of her confidence.

Where does that come from? Bradshaw is a big influence and the importance of the support of her family and friends cannot be understated.

I still see Holly [Bradshaw] every day at the track more or less and shes super supportive, Caudery adds. To know that kind of height could get me a medal at the Olympics blows my mind and its just crazy.

I havent processed any of it in all honesty! Im taking every day as it comes but its so exciting and Im so grateful. The crowd were so loud and that got me through. I love that noise and they can keep it coming.

Part of the reason why I was so nervous today was that my mum, dad, grandma, boyfriend and his family were all watching me today. I wanted to do it all for them and to have just jumped that high in front of all of them helped me as well.

Its all happened so fast and Im just riding the waves and taking every day as it comes. I havent processed any of it in all honesty! Im taking every day as it comes but its so exciting and Im so grateful. The crowd were so loud and that got me through. I love that noise and they can keep it coming.

Caudery has overcome a variety of injuries, from nearly chopping off her finger in a gym accident on Christmas Eve in 2021 to Achilles pain in 2022, and is now reaping the rewards for just sticking to the cause.

In an exclusive interview with AW last month, she stated that self-visualising the perfect jump had a huge impact in getting through rehab.

The future quite literally looks up for Caudery and she is starting to produce heights that make you wonder if she could replicate Bradshaw and stand on the Olympic podium.

If Caudery continues her upward trajectory, then who knows whats possible?