Duplantis breaks meet record with 17-8.50 clearance

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Lafayette LA sophomore Mondo Duplantis broke the Texas Relays record in the high school boys pole vault on Friday night in Austin, clearing 17-8.50 before going out on three misses at 18-1.

Duplantis, who made his first jump in the competition after everyone else had already been eliminated, moved into a tie for 13th on the all-time list outdoors. He broke the sophomore class record by two and a half inches. 

Earlier, Brandee Johnson of Nansemond River VA ran a scorching time of 40.87 seconds to win the 300-meter hurdles. That elevated Johnson to No. 15 all-time. Jurnee Woodward from Vacaville CA ran 41.01 seconds, which is tied for the 25th fastest of all-time. 

In the 1,600 meters finals, Madie Boreman of Rouse TX beat strong sophomores Rylee Bowen of California and Rafaella Gibbons from Florida in 4:50.36. 

Parker Scott from Corpus Christi King TX won the boys race in 4:15.23. 

Norman Grimes of Canyon TX won the 300 hurdles final in 36.33 seconds -- slightly off his meet record from 2015 (36.10).

Adrian Piperi of The Woodlands TX launched the best discus mark in the nation so far this season with 204-3.  In the girls competition, Elena Bruckner from Valley Christian CA threw 170-4 for the win. 

Tara Davis from Agoura CA jumped 20-1.75 to win a rematch in the long jump with New Balance Nationals Indoor winner Samiyah Samuels of Cypress Springs TX. She got her best jump away and early in the competition, on her third attempt. That was important, because she took a hard fall in the 100-meter hurdles. In the long jump finals she took a pass and fouled twice. 

Rachel Baxter from Canyon CA won the girls pole vault with 13-6.