Silesia Diamond League 2024: Mondo Duplantis sets world record in men's pole vault

Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.26m to win the men’s pole vault title at Silesia Diamond League 2024.

Mondo Duplantis proceeded in classic fashion in the pole vault, winning the Silesia Diamond League 2024 with his third vault, at 6.00m, and then moving straight on to the world record height, which he cleared, amid a tumult of excitement, at his second event.

Joy was unbounded in this competition, as respective Olympic silver and bronze medallists, Sam Kendricks of the United States and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece had both cleared 6.00m – a season’s best for the first and a national record for the latter.

And the 12th of this season’s Wanda Diamond League series ended on a dizzying high as Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.26m to earn his 10th pole vault world record, adding a centimetre to the mark he established in retaining his Olympic title in Paris earlier this month.

Meanwhile on the track, Jakob Ingebrigtsen shattered one of the longest standing world records on a sweltering afternoon at the Silesian Stadium on Sunday as he clocked a staggering 7:17.55 for the 3000m, taking more than three seconds off the mark of 7:20.67 set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 1996.

Also Read: Emmanuel Wanyonyi equals all-time second fastest timing in men’s 800m at Lausanne Diamond League 2024

It was a huge performance in the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial meeting for Ingebrigtsen, who lost his Olympic 1500m title in Paris earlier this month but won gold in the 5000m. On the eve of the competition, the Norwgian had commented: “I’m excited about the race. The 3000m is a very good distance for me, and everything is lined up for something big.”

This was big. Already third on the world all-time list with the 7:23.63 he ran in Eugene last year, he knew there was a big gap even to the second best performance of 7:23.09, set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.

But on this day Ingebrigtsen became a history man, moving clear of the field over the final lap after passing the bell with the green wavelight world record indicators scattering behind him as if they had fallen out of his pockets.

OUT OF THIS WORLD ‼️🇳🇴's Jakob Ingebrigtsen obliterates the 3000m world record at the @MemorialKamili with 7:17.55 🤯He goes more than 3 seconds faster than the previous world record 😮‍💨#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/iPTqnnl91D

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 25, 2024

By the time the Norwegian hit the finishing straight he was, astonishingly, 10 metres clear of the snaking green lights and he put his hands to his head after crossing the line.

“It feels special, amazing,” said Ingebrigtsen. “I was hoping to challenge the world record here, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am capable of. I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though.

“At the beginning the pace felt really fast, but then I started to feel my way into the race and found a good rhythm. The 3000m is a tough distance. After 4-5 laps you feel the lactic acid, but you need to get going.

“The conditions were difficult with the heat today, but it is the same for everyone. I have a good team. We use ice vests, we make sure I stay hydrated and I am prepared. “Now I want to challenge world records at all distances – but it is one step at a time.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram