UKTF: Hufnagel Excited to Build on Momentum from US Olympic Trials Win

In one of her last competitions wearing a Kentucky uniform, Charity Hufnagel became the United States High Jump Champion, showing unlimited potential to add to her already decorated competitive résumé.

On Monday, June 24, Hufnagel had a flawless field series en route to clearing 6’4.25”/1.94 meters in the Women’s High Jump to win the United States Olympic Team Trials, Track and Field.

Lonnie Green, UK’s Director of Track and Field/Head Coach called her breakout victory “phenomenal.” 

Hufnagel built on her previous performances as she looked forward to the US Olympic Trials. She had a remarkable 2023 outdoor season where she cleared 1.93m to win the NCAA high jump title competing for Ball State.  

As a grad transfer competing for Kentucky at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this June, Hufnagel also had a strong showing. She started the competition by placing seventh in the heptathlon. She also qualified as an individual in the high jump and placed 12th.

After the collegiate season concluded, she continued to set high goals for herself.  The time between the NCAA season and the trials provided an opportunity to reset for future competitions.

“When you get to the trials, it’s kind of like a clean slate,” Hufnagel said. 

“The previous weeks leading up to it, I was just building my confidence, doing what I need to do necessary, and showed up at the trials. I wanted to PR and hopefully qualify to the Olympics. I gave myself the best shot I could. So I was just very excited to do that and very blessed to be there and compete with the best in the country,” said Hufnagel. 

After two days of competition at the US Olympic Trials and zero missed attempts through five heights, Charity Hufnagel emerged as the women’s high jump champion and earned herself a new personal best height. 

She was the first collegian to claim the United States title since 2008. 

After her win, she went on to attempt the Olympic Standard height of 6’5.05″/1.97 meters.  She unfortunately missed all three attempts at this height, so she did not qualify to Paris. Just three days later, Hufnagel competed at the Jamaican Championships to try to achieve the standard, but she ended the competition at a height of 1.89m.

“There are different ways to ascend to the Olympic games. You either do it outright or meet the standard, or get a certain space in your world ranking,” Coach Lonnie Green explained.

After the World Athletics rankings were updated, Hufnagel was listed outside of the top thirty high jumpers in the world, so she was unable to qualify that way.

Although her height of 1.94m did not meet the Olympic Standard set by World Athletics, this performance shows that she has a strong future in the sport. It was a great way to end her collegiate career at Kentucky before she begins her professional career.

“I’m excited to build on this momentum moving forward,” said Hufnagel. 

Hufnagel already has many achievements to celebrate from her time competing for UK, and it will be great to see all that she accomplishes in the future. 

She’s already competed at some meets after the Olympic Team Trials and could feature at events on the “European” professional circuit in the buildup and follow up to the Paris games later this summer.  

Off a historic victory at the U.S. Championships, the future for Hufnagel is bright whether later this summer or in future seasons as she looks to build on her accomplishments as one of the United States’ top high jumpers.