It was a great night for athletics in Poland, with Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden and Jacob Ingebrigtsen of Norway breaking world records at the Silesian Diamond League meet on Sunday. Duplantis improved his personal best in the men's pole vault for the third time in 2024 alone, while Ingebrigtsen broke the long-held 3,000m record by more than three seconds.
Norway's Ingebrigtsen finished in 7 minutes 17.55 seconds, beating the previous record of 7 minutes 20.67 seconds set by Kenya's Daniel Komen in Rieti, Italy, in 1996. It was the longest world record in an individual men's track event.
But for Duplantis, it was a rapid turnaround. Just under three weeks after he last broke his own world record, he cleared 6.26m, surpassing the mark he set at the Stade de France to be crowned Olympic champion. “I know I can jump higher and I want to jump higher,” Duplantis told olympics.com. “I want to go over 6.30m.” And now he's inching closer to that mark.
Duplantis' first world record in the men's pole vault was in February 2020, coincidentally in Poland. Just four and a half years later, he set his 10th world record in Poland. This is also his fourth world record in the past 12 months, having set it in Eugene (USA) at the end of the 2023 season.
“My first world record was also set indoors in Torun, Poland, so I have great memories here,” Duplantis said. “It's all about being in good condition and believing you can do it. I always want to jump as high as I can and keep trying. I've never done a jump that I felt was perfect, so I always feel like I can go higher.”
It was Ingebrigtsen's second outdoor world record, after his 2000. His previous best time in the 3000, set last September, was nearly three seconds slower than Komen's, but he was on a mission in Silesia.
The 23-year-old was in shock as he crossed the finish line, holding his hands to his head in disbelief at his timing.
“It's a special and amazing feeling. I wanted to attempt the world record here but with all my training I couldn't predict exactly what time I could do,” he said. “But I didn't expect to run 7 minutes 17 seconds. At the beginning the pace felt really fast but then I got used to the race and found a good rhythm. 3000m is a tough distance. After four or five laps you feel the lactic acid but you have to get going. The conditions were tough today with the heat but it's the same for everyone.”
Three days earlier, the Norwegian had a little revenge on America's Cole Hocker, winning the 1,500 meters in Lausanne in 3:27.83, two weeks after Hocker shocked the Olympic field by winning gold in Paris. He finished ahead of three Ethiopians, with Paris 10,000 silver medalist Belikh Aregawi coming in second in 7:21.28, his personal best and the third-fastest time ever. Yomif Kejelcha was third.
“Now I want to challenge for world records at all distances, but one step at a time,” Ingebrigtsen added.
(Source: Reuters)
Mondo Duplantis World Record:
26 June: Stadion Śląski, Chorzów (POL), 25 August 2024
6.25: Stade de France, Paris (FRA), 5 August 2024
6.24: Eaglet Stadium, Xiamen (China), April 20, 2024
6.23: Hayward Field, Eugene (USA), September 17, 2023
6.22 (i): Maison des Sports, Clermont-Ferrand (France), 25 February 2023
6.21: Hayward Field, Eugene (US), July 24, 2022
6.20 (i): Stark Arena, Belgrade (SRB), 20 March 2022
6.19 (i): Stark Arena, Belgrade (SRB), 07 March 2022
6.18(i): Emirates Arena, Glasgow (GBR), 15 February 2020
6.17 (i): Arena, Torun (POL), February 8, 2020
