Duplantis achieves 12th straight victory since taking runner-up to Kendricks at last year’s World final by clearing outdoor best of 19-11 (6.07m) at special Wanda Diamond League event; Kendricks produces best second-place mark in event history by clearing 19-9 (6.02m), with Bengtsson winning women’s competition

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and Sam Kendricks produced one of the most impressive pole vault showcases in history Wednesday in Switzerland as part of a special street vault event organized by the Wanda Diamond League at the city centre in Lausanne.

Following their memorable showdown 11 months ago at the World Outdoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, Swedish star Duplantis and American standout Kendricks reached even more rarefied air, becoming the first two athletes to both clear at least 19 feet, 9 inches (6.02m) in the same competition.

Duplantis soared to his 12th consecutive victory this year since taking runner-up to Kendricks in the World final, achieving the best outdoor mark this season with a first-attempt clearance 19-11 (6.07m).

“It was a fantastic evening. The conditions, crowd, competition it was all fabulous,” Duplantis told meet organizers. “Sam is a fabulous competitor, and I feel we bring the best out of each other. We kept pushing each other and you can see the result. It reminded me a bit of the Garden Challenge, we kept going after the next height. It was quick. I loved it.”

Kendricks, who has lost to Duplantis seven times this year, produced the best runner-up height by any vaulter in history with a first-attempt clearance at 19-9.

“We pole vaulters always push each other and Mondo pushed me to pass this great bar of 6.02m,” Kendricks said. “At the end, people may have thought that the light wasn’t good, but it was actually just fine for me.”

Both athletes surpassed the best clearance ever achieved at a street vault, which was 19-8.50 (6.01m) by Germany’s Bjorn Otto in 2012 in Aachen.

Another Swedish talent, Angelica Bengtsson, prevailed in a thrilling women’s competition with a third-attempt clearance at 15-5.75 (4.72m) to edge a trio of athletes at 15-2.75 (4.64m).

“This has been a beautiful experience, the energy from the fans has been amazing and the City is a great backdrop,” Bengtsson said. “I’m happy to be able to come out and put on a show for the fans and hopefully help to lift their spirits as it’s been a tough year for everyone.”

Duplantis joined Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka as the only vaulters in history to clear at least 19-11 outdoors.

Bubka has seven outdoor clearances higher than Duplantis’ mark, including the world record 20-1.75 (6.14m) in 1994. Duplantis cleared the indoor world record 20-3.25 (6.18m) in February in Scotland.

After Kendricks missed all three attempts at 19-11, Duplantis took one attempt at 20-2 (6.15m), but determined there wasn’t sufficient lighting to continue the competition.

“In the end it got too dark to go for 6.15m and I felt it was unsafe to continue any further,” Duplantis said. “I felt I was in the zone. But you have to be prudent.”

Kendricks became the sixth athlete in history to produce at least a 6-meter vault, which is a 19-8.25 clearance, and not win a competition.

It marked the fifth 6-meter clearance, including the fourth outdoors, in Kendricks’ career. It was the 11th 6-meter clearance, including the fifth outdoors, for Duplantis.

Kendricks secured gold in Doha and Duplantis captured silver after both athletes cleared 19-7 (5.97m) on their third attempts. Kendricks prevailed after clearing 19-5 (5.92m) on his first opportunity, with Duplantis making the height on his third try.

Brazil’s Thiago Braz da Silva, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, took third with a first-attempt clearance at 18-9.25 (5.72m). France’s Renaud Lavillenie, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, also cleared 18-9.25 on his third attempt.

Americans Cole Walsh and Chris Nilsen, making his pro debut, both cleared 18-5.25 (5.62m) to finish fifth and seventh, respectively.

Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, Switzerland’s Angelica Moser and Sweden’s Michaela Meijer all cleared 15-2.75. Bradshaw and Moser both made the height on their first attempts, with Meijer clearing the bar on her second opportunity.

Bradshaw finished second based on not missing an attempt prior to her three opportunities at 15-5.75.