Mondo calls 18-foot jump 'most important' so far

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Pole vaulting prodigy Mondo Duplantis became the first high school vaulter to scale 18 feet indoors on Saturday at the LSU High School Last Chance Qualifier. 

The Lafayette LA sophomore, who started setting world records for his age when he was 10, conquered several milestones with his 18-0.50 jump at LSU. 

It broke the national high school record of 17-11.25 set by Deakin Volz in 2015. It was a world record for 16-year-olds. And it broke his father Greg's all-time Lafayette High School record of 17-11.75 during the outdoor season in 1981. 

"It is the most important jump in my life so far," Duplantis said on Sunday. "It's always been a life goal to get 18 feet."

Duplantis has been checking off boxes on what has become a legendary progression in the sport for years. 

On Saturday he moved onto his biggest pole to date, a 16-footer rated for 180 pounds.  While holding at 15-7 or 15-8, Duplantis was able to get his hips nearly three feet over his hands on his record-setting jump. When he made 17-10.50, he said he was "amazed."

Then he went for 18-0.50. The clearance came on his third attempt and final attempt and the bar wobbled as he brushed it. 

"I slithered over it," Duplantis said. 

He barely remembers the jump, calling the experience a "blur."

"I honestly can't remember how if felt," he said. "Everybody was clapping and my mind went blank."

Duplantis, who jumps internationally for his mother's native Sweden, won the World Youth Championships gold medal last summer with a meet record 17-4.50. Already this winter he had improved to 17-6. 

But there is also a big difference between the ninth grade and 10th grade for Duplantis. He has grown 6-7 inches, he said, sprouting to 5-10. 

"It's a big advantage," Duplantis said of his taller frame. "Being a little bit taller means my grip is higher. (Height) is important."

Duplantis plans to vault in Albuquerque, N.M. next weekend and believes he can PR again. 

"I have a lot of stuff I think I can improve on," he said. "I'm not that close to perfect."

Watch sophomore Mondo Duplantis clear 5.50m, 18'.5" to break the US indoor high school record.

 

A video posted by Armand Duplantis (@mondohoss55) on Feb 6, 2016 at 5:14pm PST