Marleen Mülla, an Estonian pole vaulter celebrating her 25th birthday this summer, has once again raised the bar for Estonian pole vault records. After setting a record just last week by clearing 4.60 meters, she participated in the Nebraska Tune Up competition where she successfully jumped 4.63 meters on her second attempt, solidifying her victory as she bested Russian athlete Arina Razina, who cleared 4.23 meters. This achievement places Mülla ninth in the world seasonal rankings for 2023.

As she prepares for the upcoming indoor World Championships in March, Mülla currently ranks eighth in the qualification standings, needing to reach a height of 4.70 meters to meet the championship standard. Should she succeed in reaching this height, she would be among a select group of twelve athletes competing in the event. Interestingly, had her recent performance occurred at last year's Tokyo World Outdoor Championships, her 4.63 meter jump would have secured her a tenth-place finish during the qualifying rounds.

Mülla's rising trajectory in pole vaulting is noteworthy as she has progressively improved her personal bests over the last few years, moving from 4.55 meters in 2021 to 4.57 meters in 2022 and now 4.63 meters in 2023. Her current standing not only highlights her talent and paves the way for a successful career but also reflects on the competitive landscape of Estonian athletics, where she follows closely behind Allika Inkeri Moser, who previously set a record of 4.52 meters, showcasing a significant gap to the next best jump by Reena Koll at 4.36 meters in 2018.