Duplantis exploring rare air in the pole vault

High school record holder bringing his show to the NYRR Millrose Games

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Armand Duplantis is headed to the 110th NYRR Millrose Games this week to compete Saturday in the Junior Boys’ Pole Vault – and he just might break the building record at The Armory.

The junior from Lafayette LA took high school pole vaulting into the stratosphere Saturday with his second and third national high school records of the winter season. His one attempt – successful – at 18 feet, 9.25 inches (5.72 meters) automatically qualified him to participate in the IAAF World Championships in London in August.

NYRR MILLROSE GAMES TV/WEBCAST INFO

Duplantis called it quits after the record jump, but came away encouraged from the meet at LSU, which has been a good venue for him.

“I thought I could have went higher,” he said. “But after two PRs, it’s a good time to stop. I think I could go 5.80.”

There has only been one 19-foot vault at The Armory. In 2015, Shawn Barber cleared 19-0.25 (5.80m) at the Armory Track Invitational.

Duplantis’ acceleration to global elite status could hasten the day that he considers going pro, but he said that’s a jump too far for now.

“I’m not quite thinking about that right now,” he said. “Instead (since making 18-9.25) I’m thinking not just about making it to London, but maybe try to get ready to make the finals there, maybe get on the podium.”

Duplantis competes internationally for Sweden, the home country of his mother. He won the IAAF U-20 World Championship in July in Poland.

After the meet was over, he received a congratulatory text message Saturday from Renaud Lavillenie, the world record holder from France.

“Renaud sent me a message. It just said ‘congrats’ and that he hopes to see me in London,” Duplantis said. “It’s pretty surreal. The past couple of years, he’s the person I look up to the most. He’s the person I’ve always wanted to jump with.”

At the NYRR Millrose Games, there is only a Junior Boys event, and Duplantis could win that by two feet. Later in the day, there is an Olympic Games rematch involving gold medalist Katernia Stefanidi of Greece and silver medalist Sandi Morris of the U.S.

“It’s going to be a treat for everybody in the Northeast to see the best junior guy ever in the event,” said Tim St. Lawrence, coach of the Hudson Valley Flying Circus Club.

“I’ve got 50 guys out of my club coming to watch it. He creates tremendous interest. He’s humble, unassuming and a model athlete.”

St. Lawrence put the junior boys vaulting field together for the NYRR Millrose Games.

“There’s a buzz going around,” he said. “He started vaulting at 5 years old. The blend of fluidity he has, it’s poetry in motion. There’s not a single muscle getting jerked out of place. He’s so in tune, it’s like him and the pole are one.”

Junior Boys Pole Vault Entries

Erick Duffy (North Andover, Mass.)

Armand Duplantis (Lafayette, La.)

Branson Ellis (Tyler, Texas)

Logan Konst (Anna, Ohio)

K.C. Lightfoot (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)

Nick Marino (Horsham, Pa.)

Zach McWhorter (Springdale, Ark.)

Peyton Morris (Enola, Pa.)

Riley Richards (China Springs, Texas)

Billy Williamson (Winamac, Ind.)