Mondo Quicker Out Of The Blocks, Holds Off Warholm To Run 10.37 In First 100-Meter Race Since High School

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Matt Quine photos

Mondo Duplantis has broken the world record nine times, which is good for both his bank account and his confidence.

But in Wednesday's exhibition race against Norway's Karsten Warholm, Duplantis was really in his element, competing in a rare environment in which he had something to prove. 

A pole vaulter running faster than a 400-meter hurdles world-record holder? 

"What's pressure?" Duplantis said as he casually waited under Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. 

With an array of American sprint stars in his corner, including fellow Louisiana State alum Sha'Carri Richardson, Fred Kerley and Vernon Norwood, Duplantis proved that his athleticism is not restricted to one technical event. 

It was Duplantis out of the blocks first, building a lead, and holding off Warholm, 10.37 to 10.47, as the two athletes sponsored by Red Bull put on a show. 

World Athletics was all too eager to make it happen, bringing lights and sizzle to a one-of-a-kind race between world record holders. 

Perhaps sweetest of all, and worth every penny of a world-record bonus, is that Warholm must compete in Thursday's Diamond League meet wearing the colors of Sweden. If he had lost, Duplantis would have honored the side bet by wearing Norway's uniform in the pole vault. 

"I got to give it to Mondo, he beat me, fair and square, so it was a great race," said Warholm, 28.

Duplantis' challenge to Warholm followed an moment last year in a press conference where Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce playfully suggested she might be faster than the world's best pole vaulter. To which, Duplantis merely shook his head. 

Duplantis was eighth in the Louisiana state final in the 100 meters in 2018, competing for Lafayette LA. He had race only a couple of times in the 100, but he knew how much faster he was than his 10.57 personal best from six years ago. 

In the aftermath, Duplantis suggested, or offered, to race Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone if she needed a 400-meter opponent after being denied an opportunity to race in the Diamond League final in Brussels. 

"I'm pretty fired up," said Duplantis, 24, after his victory.

"How could I not be? I mean, Come on, stop playing with me."