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regular-article-logo Thursday, 10 October 2024

Diamond League Finals: Sweden’s Armand Duplantis breaks own pole vault world record

We’re not only competitors, but we really are brothers and we have a great time together out there, says Duplantis

AP/PTI Eugene (US) Published 19.09.23, 10:41 AM
Armand Duplantis leaps 6.23m to break his own record on Sunday.

Armand Duplantis leaps 6.23m to break his own record on Sunday. Twitter

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis didn’t exactly remember soaring over the bar to set a new world record at the Diamond League Finals. But knew what came next.

“I just looked up and the bar was still there,” he laughed.

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Duplantis and Ethiopia distance runner Gudaf Tsegay both set new world records on Sunday to wrap up the season.

Known as Mondo, Duplantis leaped 6.23m. The reigning world champion broke his own record of 6.22m set indoors earlier this year.

He was swarmed by fellow competitors after clearing the jump then hopped onto the track’s railing and struck a victory pose for fans at Eugene’s Hayward Field.

“We’re not only competitors, but we really are brothers and we have a great time together out there,” Duplantis said.

“To see them embrace me like that after doing a jump, breaking a world record, I’m thankful. I just feel very thankful.”

Earlier in the day, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay broke the world record in the 5,000m, finishing in 14:00.21.

Tsegay bested the record of 14:05.20 set by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon earlier this year in Paris. Tsegay’s finish was nearly 12 seconds better than her personal best. Kenyan Beatrice Chebet was runner-up in 14:05.92.

Afterward, the 26-year-old Tsegay vowed to try to go under 14 minutes next year: “Yes, I try,” she said.

The tournament, normally run in late May, was this year’s final stop on the international Diamond League circuit. The 32 champions crowned during the two-day meet earned $30,000 apiece.

It was the last major international track and field competition before the athletes begin gearing up for the Paris Olympics next summer.

Canadian Andre De Grasse, the 200m champion at the Tokyo Olympics, won the event Sunday in 19.76 seconds to cap his season. World champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica won on the women’s side in 21.57 for her second Prefontaine title of the weekend.

Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen won his second title with a victory in the 3,000.

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