Mondo Duplantis fell short in his latest pole vault world record bid but easily triumphed as the Diamond League season kicked off in Shanghai.
Duplantis’ closest competitor was Kurtis Marschall, who bowed out after clearing 5.80m, which left the Swedish superstar to attempt 6.32, 1cm more than his current world record, having cleared 6.12m before to win the event on the night.
But Duplantis will have to wait for a 17th world record, having only set the latest mark in March, as his feet knocked off the bar in his first two attempts, and he fell well short on the third.
“The attempt at the world record was okay, I wish I could improve the run-up, the approach, speed and energy and then it will be good,” said Duplantis.
South Africa’s Gift Leotlela edged Ferdinand Omanyala and Kenny Bednarek to win the Shanghai Diamond League 100 meters on Saturday, as Mondo Duplantis `fell short in his attempt to improve his pole vault world record yet again. Leotlela surged late to victory in a photo finish with Kenya’s Omanyala and American Bednarek, twice an Olympic 200m medallist. The South African finished in 9.97 seconds to clinch his first Diamond League win.
“It means a lot… I had a decent `start, not great. I just tried to keep my `composure, stay in my rhythm and stay strong,” said 28-year-old Leotlela, who finished fifth in last year’s World Championships.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson soared past Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, a two-time Olympic 400m champion, to win the women’s 200, as Anavia Battle finished third ahead of fellow American Sha’Carri Richardson, who took silver in the 100m at the Paris Games, while Great Britain’s Amy Hunt was down in fifth.
American Olympic champion Masai Russell eased to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 12.25 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. In the men’s 110m hurdles, world champion Cordell Tinch lost out to fellow American Jamal Britt.
In the women’s shot put, the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder impressed with a 21.09m throw to finish first ahead of twice world champion Chase Jackson. Ireland’s Mark English won the men’s 800m in a scrambled finish as almost the entire pack closed in on the finish line together, edging out Kethobogile Haingura and Brandon Miller.
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon had little trouble winning her first `outdoor 5000m race of 2026, clocking 14 minutes and 24.14 seconds, the best time `of the year. “I feel so good, it was a good race. A positive season opener,” said Kipyegon, a three-times Olympic 1500m champion who also took silver in the 5,000m at the Paris Games.
“I’m going to continue to do both 1,500m and 5,000m… I just want to be the best version of myself and see how I perform.” (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
Reuters contributed to this report
