With his last vault of another superlative season, Armand Duplantis revised the record books in the pole vault at the Diamond League Final in Eugene on Sunday (17).
In the very arena where he cleared a world record to win gold at the World Athletics Championships last year, Duplantis improved his world record courtesy of a first-time clearance of 6.23m - the seventh world record of his remarkable career.
“The limit is very high, and I hope that I can continue to jump well and keep jumping higher than I did today, but for now I’m not really thinking about anything except enjoying this moment and enjoying what I just did. For me, I just try to jump high,” said Duplantis.
The height of 6.23m has narrowly eluded Duplantis all summer but the 23-year-old, who set his previous world record of 6.22m with his last vault of the indoor season in Clermont-Ferrand in late February, credited a shorter competition for facilitating his world record exploits.
Duplantis was economical as he was terrific, clearing each height - 5.62m, 5.82m, 6.02m and a world record of 6.23m - on his first attempt.
“For me it’s very nice because it’s a much shorter competition and I think that it’s a lot easier to be fresh at that world record height. I think the format of the Diamond League final is super nice for me to go out and attempt a world record - and in this case break it,” said Duplantis.
Back-to-back European records for Ingebrigtsen
Less than 24 hours after winning the mile in an instant classic against Yared Nuguse in a European record of 3:43.73, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was embroiled in another titanic battle in the 3000m which yielded another victory and another record.
Ingebrigtsen narrowly held off the imposing figure of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha who shadowed the 22-year-old Norwegian down the home straight, revising his European record with 7:23.63 to win by a mere 0.01 from Kejelcha who was gaining on Ingebrigtsen with every stride.
Ingebrigtsen has torn up the record books this summer, breaking seven European records in total but the Norwegian superstar believes he still hasn’t untapped his full potential in the middle and long distances.
“I think I’m definitely going to improve in the future if I continue doing what it takes in my training and obviously believing in my work and in myself. I think times will come when I run faster in everything,” said Ingebrigtsen, who closed with a 54.06 last lap.