Cal Vaulter Ali Sahaida Breaks Program Record at NCAA Indoors

Sahaida clears 14-11 1/2 to place fifth, the highest ever for a Cal athlete in the event.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:48am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cal senior Ali Sahaida, competing at the NCAA indoor track and field championships for the first time, crushed her school record in the pole vault and placed fifth at Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday. Sahaida cleared 14 feet, 11 1/2 inches (4.56 meters), the highest vault by a Cal woman indoors or out, adding more than three inches to her own program record.

Why it matters

Sahaida's record-breaking performance at the NCAA indoor championships is a significant achievement for the Cal track and field program, as she became the first Cal woman to compete in the pole vault at the national meet since 2018 and set a new program best mark.

The details

Sahaida entered the meet as the No. 12 seed in the field and moved up seven spots to finish fifth. She was among four vaulters who scaled 14-11 1/2, and only four women nationwide have gone higher this season than she did. Sahaida climbed to No. 25 on the world indoor list.

  • Sahaida set her previous program record of 14-8 1/4 (4.49) on Feb. 6 at Albuquerque, NM.
  • The NCAA indoor track and field championships took place on Saturday, March 15, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The players

Ali Sahaida

A senior at the University of California, Berkeley who competes in the pole vault for the Cal track and field team.

Dan Lafever

An assistant coach for the Cal track and field team.

Lauren Martinez

A former Cal pole vaulter who held the school's indoor record of 14-1 1/4 (4.30) before Sahaida broke it this season.

Allison Stokke

A former Cal pole vaulter who previously held the highest NCAA indoor finish for a Cal athlete in the event with an eighth-place effort in 2011.

Hana Moll

A junior at the University of Washington who won the NCAA indoor pole vault title with a meet-record clearance of 15-9 3/4 (4.82).

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I am so proud of her. She stepped up and battled with the best vaulters in the country and showed she is one of them.”

— Dan Lafever, Cal assistant coach

What’s next

The Cal track and field team will open their outdoor season next Friday and Saturday with the California Invitational at Edwards Stadium. The Brutus Hamilton meet will be held April 2-3-4, followed by the 131st Big Meet against Stanford on April 11.

The takeaway

Sahaida's record-breaking performance at the NCAA indoor championships is a testament to her hard work and dedication, and it establishes her as one of the top pole vaulters in the country. Her achievement also highlights the strength of the Cal track and field program and its ability to develop elite athletes.