Armand Duplantis has a third world title and another world record attempt very much in his sights after he made light work of the men’s pole vault qualification at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday (13).
The Swedish superstar, loosened up with a routine 5.55m clearance, before returning the runway to make similarly easy work of 5.75m. That was enough to book one of twelve qualifying positions.
Olympic bronze medallist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, Mondo’s most likely challenger, posted an identical card to also progress in serene style.
"Emmanouil is jumping unreal right now, his progression is insane,” said Mondo generously afterwards.
“I am going to have to be on my A-game on Monday (15) because I know he is going to push me very hard. I know I'm going to need a real class performance, but I am ready for it.”
He also hinted at another assault on the world record, which he improved to 6.29m last month. “I’d be lying if I said my mind wasn’t flirting with 6.30m. I think it’s very possible."
Competing in his eighth World Athletics Championships, former world record holder and Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie also qualified. He needed three attempts to clear 5.70m and two attempts at 5.75m.
Mihambo squeezes through
In the women’s long jump qualifiers, twice champion Malaika Mihambo of Germany was far from her best. But she qualified ninth with a best of 6.63m (0.6m/s). There was disappointment for European indoor champion Larissa Iapachino, the Italian was eliminated with 6.56 (+0.5m/s).
Croatian icon Sandra Elkasević led the qualifiers in the women’s discus with a second round effort 66.72m. The twice world champion was followed by the Netherlands’ European silver medallist Jorinde van Klinken who opened with an impressive with 66.39m.
Brits speed through 100m heats
In the men’s and women’s 100m qualifiers, Great Britain’s Romell Glave and Daryll Neita both impressed. Glave ran a personal best of 10.00 (+0.3m/s) to win heat 4.
Neita was second fastest overall behind only Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, winning heat 6 in a season’s best 10.94m (+0.5m/s).
On the same track he became Olympic champion four years ago, Marcel Jacobs also progressed, placing third in heat 6 of the men’s 100m with a season’s best of 10.20 (-0.6m/s).
In the men’s 3000m steeplechase heats, recent Diamond League final winner Frederik Ruppert safely booked his place in Monday’s (15) final, placing fourth in heat 2 in 8:27.83.
In the women’s 1500m heats, Irish duo Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan qualified, placing third in heat 4 (4:02.67) and sixth in heat 3 (4:02.12) respectively. But Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and twice European champion Laura Muir of Great Britain was eliminated, fading to eighth in heat 4 (4:05.59)