Aachen, Germany – The U.S. Vaulting Team celebrated a fourth-place finish in the Squad Compulsory Test with marks totaling 7.465 on opening day of the 2026 FEI Vaulting World Championships hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-16, 2026.  

The Squad lineup for the U.S. was made up of with Francesca Foster (Las Vegas, Nev.); Clea Limbrey (Redwood City, Calif.); Nina Limbrey (Redwood City, Calif.); Emma Milito (Brighton, Colo.); Maria McLean (Santa Cruz, Calif.); and Evalyn Rotter (Redwood City, Calif.). 

They impressed in the Allianz Park Stadium with Eldoctro, a 2009 KWPN gelding (VDl Indoctro x LBH Calvados), lunged by Carolyn Bland (GBR) and owned by Bland together with Emily Rose.

“This is his third world championship, and the compulsory went really well,” said team member Milito, 23, of their veteran partner. “He got some wonderful marks, and we're super excited to show what's next.”

Morgenthaler, 22, continued about how the squad came together for Aachen, noting, “Most of us come from the same club with two from out of state, so when we do train all together, we try to make it count. We've all vaulted together before—we're close friends outside of the team and vaulting, so it’s about working hard within our sport and also finding the time to have fun with each other and create light moments between practice. 

“This is definitely a bigger stage than we've had this season, but we are trying not to put so much pressure on ourselves,” continued Morgenthaler. “We are prepared and taking deep breaths to try to be in the moment.”

Earlier in the Thursday program, the Female Compulsory saw Kimberly Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) take sixth on a score of 7.839. She was partnered with Rosenstolz 99, a 2007 Rhinelander gelding (Rosencharmeur x Findermark), owned by Claudia Petersohn and Claudia Spadavecchia and lunged by Laura Carnabuci (ITA).

Caroline Morse (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Grasshopper AF, a 2009 American Warmblood gelding (Glacier Bay x Prime Asset XX), owned by Caroline and Jana Morse and lunged by Sarah Twohig (USA), finished in the top-20 to sit 17th on a score of 7.342. In 24th following the Compulsory, is Kylynn Ghafouri (Murrieta, Calif.) and San Felice Z, a 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Stakkato's Highlight x Landfuerst) owned by RVV Equus e.V. and lunged by Christina Ender (GER), who tallied a 7.139.

In the Male Compulsory test, Daniel Janes (Standwood, Wash.) tallied a 7.469 with Caretes Auhoern, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Caretino 2 x Colman) owned by IPG Wettenberg e.V. and Jana LEIB and lunged by Jana Leib (GER). As the last to enter the stadium, Jace Brooks (Eagle Mountain, Utah) posted a 7.167 in a new partnership with Oslo vd Bisschop, a 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Joop III x Kashmir van Schuttershof) owned by Moritz Wolf and Susanne Wunderle and lunged by Jonathan Schumacher (GER).

Female and Male Compulsory Tests take place Friday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. GMT+2/2:30 a.m. ET, ahead of the first round of Pas de Deux at 7 p.m. GMT+2/1 p.m. ET. 

Results 
Female Compulsory | Male Compulsory | Squad Compulsory
 

Competition Information  
The competition kicks off with the first group of Compulsory Tests on Thursday, August 13, beginning at 3:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. GMT+2, followed by Technical Tests on Friday, August 14, starting at 2:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. GMT+2, and the first round of Pas de Deux competition beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. GMT+2. Free Tests for the Individual Female, Individual Male, and Squads will take place on Saturday, August 15, at 3:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. GMT+2. Championship competition will conclude on Sunday, August 16, with the Pas de Deux Final at 4:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. GMT+2, followed by the Official Team Competition starting at 6:00 a.m. ET/12:00 p.m. GMT+2. 

Schedule | Watch | Results | US Equestrian’s Content Hub
 

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The USEF International High-Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.