Duplantis Outduels Kendricks For First Pre Classic Victory

By August Howell for DyeStat

PALO ALTO – The day before the 45th annual Prefontaine Classic, reigning world champion Sam Kendricks contemplated the rise of young pole vaulters he would be contending with for years to come.  

“There may not be 6-meter jumpers coming up in the next generation, or there may be twice as many,” Kendricks, age 26, said. “You can’t predict it.”

He knows there is at least one.

Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, who represents Sweden, is part of the younger crop of world-class pole vaulters. He may be just 19 years old, but he’s already a familiar face to Kendricks and many of the world’s best. 

Fresh off their back-and-forth duel in the 2019 Pre Classic at Cobb Track and Angell Field at Stanford University, Duplantis and Kendricks stood side by side in the media’s mixed zone. Both had beaten the previous facility record on their fifth attempt, 19-2.25 (5.85m) set by Toby Stevenson in 2004. 

“I thought we were going to share the stadium record, but Mondo said ‘Nah, I’m going higher,’” Kendricks said. “That was pretty hardcore.” 

POST-MEET INTERVIEW WITH SAM KENDRICKS AND MONDO DUPLANTIS

In an event featuring the Olympic champion, world record holder and two-time reigning world champion, it was Duplantis, the world's current No. 1 and youngest in the field, who won by clearing 19 feet, 5.50 inches (5.93m) after missing his two previous jumps. It was the European champion’s first win since signing with Puma after a one-and-done freshman year at LSU in early June. 

“I knew it was gonna take everything in me to beat Sam, and the best in the world,” Duplantis said. 

After missing his first attempt at 19-3.50 (5.88m), Duplantis made his move that would eventually seal the win. He decided to pass on his next two attempts at the height and wait for the bar to go up to 19-5.50. Though he missed the first jump, he got the second, putting the pressure back on Kendricks. 

That height was a season best for Kendricks, and in his eyes, Duplantis’ decision was “a big boy move.” Kendricks then missed all three of his next attempts, his only misses of the day. 

Though the event included all but one of the active jumpers who had ever cleared six meters – authorized neutral athlete Timur Morgunov was the only athlete not in attendance – only Kendricks and Duplantis got close to the height.

World record holder Renaud Lavillenie was the first to exit the competition after failing to clear 18-4.75 (5.61m). On the next height, 18-8.75 (5.71m), Cole Walsh, Valentin Lavillenie and Olympic champion Thiago Braz were all eliminated after missing three consecutive attempts. Piotr Lisek and Chris Nilsen cleared that height, but missed their attempts at 19-0.75 (5.81m), leaving Duplantis and Kendricks alone at 19-3.50.  

Duplantis, the World U-20 record holder, admitted he had extra motivation to beat Nilsen, who won the NCAA Outdoor Championships in early June, preventing Duplantis from sweeping the Division 1 indoor and outdoor titles. 

“As a competitor, I always want to get the revenge,” Duplantis said. 

Once Kendricks failed to surpass him, Duplantis had three attempts to break his own world lead, and set the bar at 19-8.50. He did not clear the height, and admitted he felt some fatigue. 

Kendricks’ runner-up finish is just his second loss in eight outdoor events this year. He did not hold back in acknowledging his friend’s stylish victory.  

“He’s a jumper, he’s a showman. He pushes me up there,” Kendricks said. “He’s got his own way. I may have been on this circuit a little bit longer, but we’re very kindred spirits and it’s hard to find us without a smile when we’re on the track.”