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Duplantis conquers pole vault at Silesia Diamond League / Photo: Wojtek RADWANSKI - AFP
Duplantis conquers pole vault at Silesia Diamond League
Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis had a tilt at a new world record, but it wasn't to be, after he'd tied up victory at the Diamond League meet in Silesia on Sunday.
Duplantis passed at the entry height of 5.50m, but went on to make hard work of the next three heights.
The bar was raised to 5.65m, at which Duplantis failed his first attempt.
He sailed over at the second time of asking, then opting to skip 5.80m, which Greek rival Emmanouil Karalis cleared with ease in the promise of a tight business end to the action.
The Greek went over 5.90m, but Duplantis uncharacteristically skidded to a halt on his first attempt.
Norway's Sondre Guttormsen was first over 6.00m, followed by Karalis and a fist-clenched Duplantis. But that was it as the seven others in the field bombed out.
The bar went up to 6.10m, Duplantis again going clear on his second effort.
It was too high for Guttormsen, while Karalis upped the ante by passing.
Both vaulters also passed at 6.15, with the bar now at 6.20m, and Karalis first up.
He failed, but Duplantis went over.
Karalis clipped the bar twice more to hand Duplantis the win.
The stage was set for the US-born Swede and a potential tilt at a 16th world record.
And up the bar duly went to 6.32m, 1cm higher than the world record.
But after one attempt, Duplantis called it a day.
Q.Escribano--HdM
