by Alfonz JuckSimply the finest pole vaulter, @mondohoss600 goes 6.19m in Belgrade on Monday, 7 March 2022, #6.19, #borntofly, @PUMARunning, @WCHoregon22, #WICBelgrade22, @Running_Network, @American_TandF, https://t.co/xtD4QjdAgg
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) March 8, 2022
The truth is this. Mondo Duplantis makes a world record look easy. And that is just not true. In a recent interview, Mondo told the assembled media that he had attempted 6.19m at least fifty times before he cleared it. The hard work, talent, focus, bravado, support and did I say focus? that it takes to be a world class pole vaulter is one thing. Consider this then. Consider that, on his sixth jump of the night, after clearing 5.61m, 5.81m, and 6.00m with just three jumps.
On his third attempt, everyone holding their breath, willing the Swedish superstar to grab a star, or a piece of the moon. What was it? Not sure, but he now has clear 6.17m, 6.18m, and 6.19m.
I think I have heard of this centimeter a world record thing. Is he doing a “Bubka?”
Mr. Bubka, in his career, broke World records 34-35 times, each time by a centimeter. Sponsors, especially those with a Swoosh, loved it.
Duplantis 619 WR in 6th jump of the evening
Mondo Duplantis, photo by Diamond League AG
BELGRADE (SRB, Mar 7): Armand Duplantis used the opportunity in the Stark Arena, and in his warm-up competition before World Indoors at Belgrade Open (WIT Silver) he cleared in the third attempt new World record 619. Before this height, he just had three jumps at 561, 585, and 600. In the long jump battle, another Olympic winner competing Miltiadis Tentoglou won with a last round effort of 825 ahead of until leading Tobias Montler 823. The third Tokyo gold medalist was not lucky as Marcell Jacobs was disqualified after a false start in the 60 m final. Slovak Jan Volko won afterward with 6.69 as Jacobs clocked the fastest of the day in heats 6.56. Italian record holder Zaynab Dosso dominated women 60 m with a 7.21 win and 7.20 in heats. But there was also a lot of success for Serbian athletes. Ivana Vuleta dominated long jump with 688 SB over team-mate Milica Gardasevic 669 PB and triple jumper Neja Filipic from Slovenia 660 PB. Another Serbian record for Elzan Bibic 3:37.84 in the 1500 m being second behind Elliot Giles 3:37.49. Also, the second placer in 400 m Bosko Kijanovic clocked 46.22 big PB and NR for Serbia behind Benjamin Lobo Vedel of Denmark 45.94 also NR. In the 60 m hurdles Croatian Ivana Loncarek 8.11 with Anja Lukic Serbian record 8.14 second. In shot put Italian indoor record for Nick Ponzio 21.61 over Asmir Kolasinac 21.06 and Mesud Pezer 20.91. Czech Petr Svoboda clocked 7.65 to win the hurdles over Mekdat Silver’s 7.71 Turkish record. Slovenian Anita Horvat won the 400 m in 53.03 and Marija Vukovic of Montenegro high jump 190 on countback over Lia Apostolovski from Slovenia 190 PB.
Mondo Duplantis, photo by Diamond League AG
