Duplantis clears 5.90 to beat Kendricks at Golden Spike

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — World-record holder Armand Duplantis cleared 5.90 meters to win the men’s pole vault at the Golden Spike meet on Wednesday.

In his first event in Europe this season, the Swede beat world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States at the 60th edition of the meet.

Kendricks cleared 5.85 in cold condition in front of about 1,500 fans who were allowed to attend amid the coronavirus restrictions.

Nicknamed “Mondo,” Duplantis — who was born and raised in the United States — was named the track and field athlete of 2020 after breaking indoor and outdoor records in the discipline.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, the world-record holder in the men’s 5,000 and 10,000 meters, dominated the 3,000 in 7 minutes, 33.26 seconds.

Britain’s Max Burgin won the men’s 800 in a world-leading 1:44.14, a personal best for the 18-year-old.

There were several other world-leading results as Getnet Wale of Ethiopia clocked 8:09.47 in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s 10.000 in 26:33.93 and Johannes Vetter of Germany had a throw of 94.20 meters in the men’s javelin.

Fred Kerley led an American 1-2 finish in the men’s 100, clocking 9.96 seconds. Veteran Justin Gatlin finished second in 10.08 followed by Canada’s André De Grasse in 10.17.

In the women’s 200, U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson cruised to victory in 22.35. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria was second in 22.59 ahead of Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland in 22.85.

American sprinters also took 1-2 the men’s 200, with Kenny Bednarek winning in 19.93 ahead of Kerley in 20.27 in his second race of the day.


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