Duplantis has possibly competed in final prep meet

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The king of high school pole vaulting might have competed in his final prep meet Friday at his parish championships in Louisiana. 

Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, at 18 one of the top 10 pole vaulters in the world, put his poles aside Friday and won the 100 meters (10.69) and long jump (22-5) at the Beaver Club Relays, according to the Daily Advertiser.

Duplantis, of Lafayette LA, has towered over high school vaulting since he started high school and single-handedely raised the national high school records indoors and outdoors by more than a foot. 

However, an arcane Louisiana High School Actitivies Assocation rule threatens to strip him of his remaining high school eligibility if he follows through on his plans to vault against the elite men at this weekend's 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. 

Something called the "independent team rule" in the LHSAA rule book says that it's not OK for Duplantis to compete unattached during the high school outdoor season. (Never mind that he already did that last year at the Texas Relays when he broke the high school and World U-20 records by clearing 19 feet, 4.50 inches). 

There is some ambiguity to the rule and Duplantis' father, Greg, has been trying to obtain some clarification. 

A final ruling has not yet been made, but with just a couple of months remaining in Duplantis' senior season, the opportunities to compete at Texas Relays and the Prefontaine Classic against his elite peers are likely too good to pass up.    

Duplantis went 18-6 in his outdoor opener at the Oil City Relays, which was his final home meet at Lafayette High.