Armand Duplantis, world record holder and reigning Olympic champion, won the pole vault competition without shining with a bar at 5.91 m, then failed three times at 6.07 m on Friday during the stage of Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon. Bad weather being expected on Saturday, some events have been brought forward to Friday evening, including this one. Which suited the Swede who said a few hours earlier: “I think I would prefer anything to jumping in the rain”.
The world record holder (6.20 m indoors) did not have to force his talent to win his first outdoor jump, the American Christopher Nilsen, yet author of the best world performance of the year outdoors (6 m), failing to pass the 5.91 m. “Today was all about sizing me up outdoors. Winning was the most important thing but I would be lying if I said I’m not bitter for missing that bar at 6.07m. I felt it was entirely possible. I made three good attempts, but it wasn’t for today. When you start to climb to these heights, it is only a few centimeters”, reacted “Mondo”.
In the running, the Lavillenie brothers did not remain so for long. Valentin did not pass the first bar at 5.41m and Renaud stumbled on the second fixed twenty centimeters higher. Far from the meeting record he set at 6.05m in 2015.
American Valarie Allman, the reigning Olympic discus champion, won easily with a throw of 68.35m on her fifth attempt. Quite far from his best performance in the world (71.46 m). The women’s high jump was won by Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the freshest indoor world champion, who cleared 2 meters on her second attempt.
In the middle distance, the Kenyan Joshua Cheptegei, reigning Olympic champion who aspired to beat his world record in the 5,000m (12:35.36), was quite far from it. He still set the best time of the year (12:57.99) to beat the Ethiopian Milkesa Mengesha, who was a stickler until the end (13:01.11). Among the women, surprise over the same distance: the Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey, also world record holder (14:06.62), was beaten by her compatriot Ejgayehu Taye, who crossed the line in 14:12.98, MPM in prime.
Saturday, the Diamond League continues with Elaine Thompson-Herah, two-time Olympic champion in the 100m, Christian Coleman on the same straight line for men, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price on the 200m women or Ryan. Crouser, the world record holder in the shot put, all in general rehearsal two months before the World Championships in Athletics which will take place on this same Hayward Field in July.
