Mondo Duplantis Soars to 6.02m, Molly Caudery Sets World Lead
Duplantis Impresses with Six-Meter-Plus Clearance
On Thursday (22), Mondo Duplantis, the Olympic and world champion representing Sweden, soared an impressive 6.02m and attempted a world record at the All Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand. Meanwhile, Molly Caudery joined him in setting a world pole vault lead, clearing a personal best of 4.86m at the Perche Elite Tour Rouen on Saturday (24).
Duplantis opened his competition in Clermont-Ferrand at 5.72m, clearing the height on his first attempt. He then passed at 5.82m before clearing 5.92m on his first try. Duplantis then achieved his first six-meter-plus clearance of the year, soaring over 6.02m on his first attempt. He went on to attempt 6.24m, a height that would have added a centimeter to the world record he set in Eugene last September, but was unable to clear it on any of his three tries.
“Finishing second on countback was Thibaut Collet of France, who delighted the home crowd with his personal best of 5.92m, a height also managed by USA’s two-time world champion Sam Kendricks.”
In the women’s event, Canada’s Alysha Newman won with a national record clearance of 4.83m, winning on countback ahead of USA’s Bridget Williams, who also set a personal best.
Caudery Adds to World Lead
Two days later in Rouen, Molly Caudery added a centimeter to the world lead she had set the previous week to win the British title in Birmingham, clearing 4.86m on her first attempt. The Commonwealth Games silver medalist needed all three attempts to clear 4.63m but found her rhythm again at 4.73m, only needing one try. After a single failure at 4.80m, she decided to move straight to 4.86m and achieved that personal best height on her first go, before having three attempts at a national record of 4.91m.
Finland’s world bronze medalist Wilma Murto was second, and Bridget Williams was third, as they both cleared 4.80m. In the men’s competition, Sam Kendricks claimed victory, clearing 5.93m to triumph over his compatriot Chris Nilsen, who cleared 5.83m.
The strong performances from Duplantis and Caudery at these World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meetings will undoubtedly bolster their confidence as they prepare to compete at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow next weekend.
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