Bridget Williams, a Team ESSX professional pole vaulter and the reigning Pan American Games gold medalist, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her career-best 15-6.25 (4.73m) season opener Jan. 12 in the WAYV Active Elite Pole Vault Classic as part of the Virginia Tech Invitational at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, ranking her second in the U.S. and third in the world so far this year. Williams, 27, took three attempts at a world-leading clearance of 15-9.75 (4.82m), which would have also surpassed her personal-best 15-7.75 (4.77m) clearance from last year at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, Mass. Williams reflects on her disappointment from placing 12th in the World Athletics Championships final with a 14-9 (4.50m) clearance in August in Budapest, Hungary, after clearing 15-3 (4.65m) in the qualifying round two days earlier. She also revisits her ability to rebound in November to become the first American female pole vaulter to capture Pan American Games gold since 2003 with her 15-1 (4.60m) effort in Santiago, Chile. Williams examines her consistency last year, with multiple clearances above 15-5 (4.70m) in both indoor and outdoor competition, in addition to finishing third at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., and placing fourth at the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. She explains how Virginia Tech coach Bob Phillips, who also mentors Williams as a professional athlete, constructed her unique fall workout schedule, allowing for three weeks of training prior to competing at the Pan American Games, and then resuming practice following her return to Blacksburg in preparation for the winter indoor season. Williams expresses gratitude for the guidance of Phillips, in addition to the support of Hokies strength and conditioning coach Eric Hale, Virginia Tech sports psychologist Paul Knackstedt, as well as husband James Williams and her entire family in helping her develop from a three-time All-American at Virginia into an elite global competitor, who has ambitions of competing this summer at the Paris Olympics. She is expected to compete again Jan. 20 at the Hokie Invitational at Rector Field House, in preparation for the USATF Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 16-17 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.