An Olympic quest came to an end this past weekend for Remus native Kristen Hixson.
Competing at the 2016 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team trials in Eugene, Ore., the 2010 Chippewa Hills graduate and multi-time NCAA Division II national champion finished ninth in the women’s pole vault finals on Sunday, clearing 4.40 meters and 4.50 meters.
The top three finishers advanced to next month’s Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Hixson advanced to Sunday’s finals by placing in the top 14 during Friday’s qualifying round.
"When you have that one day to do it, it’s hard,” she said “You know, it’s hard to compete your best on that day. There is going to be disappointments and there is going to be times of excitement, but that’s life and that’s anything that you do in life and you just keep pushing through it and you know, always pursue your dreams regardless of what bumps you might come across.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ve never had more people reach out and support and I think that was just almost more touching than anything."
Hixson has no plans of ending her pole vaulting career and is already looking ahead to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
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