Jarno Koivunen says that the clerk of the Oslo Diamond League made a human mistake. Suspending competition is rarely an option.
In Thursday’s Oslo Diamond League, the men’s pole vault race became particularly challenging for jumpers due to a rainwater-soaked speedway and a slippery ditch pit.
The race was successfully completed, but dangerous situations were not avoided.
First French Renaud Lavillenie swayed close to the pole vault support. Fortunately, the French enduring success survived the situation with fright.
When the bar was an ME man Armand Duplantisin thanks to being raised to a height of 592, a situation was seen in which a much worse situation could have happened.
There was a towel left in the pit, and Duplantis noticed the object as he tried to repeat heights of 592. The Swede had already had time to bend himself into the air, but when he noticed the towel, he was able to bend himself down safely.
Annoyed by the situation, Duplantis showed off to the race officials. Duplantis finally crossed the height with his third attempt.
Stick Jump Coach Jarno Koivunen says the race clerk made a human mistake.
– Of course, the trustee has a variety of tasks in it. Rain brings an extra task when the treadmill should be cleaned. However, it is good that the pit is cleaned, Koivunen reminds.
– Fortunately, nothing happened. However, the ingredients were in the air.
Koivunen says that it is very difficult for a pole vaulter to detect possible objects when performing a performance.
– Of course it’s really surprising, because you can’t see when running. Once in the pit, the jump can no longer be canceled. It may be that the athlete only sees the object after the jump, Koivunen laughs.
Koivunen adds that the situation was also aggravated by a stick soaked in rain.
– There are not so many options to catch the rod from elsewhere because it is slippery. As a skilled athlete, Duplantis was fortunately able to react to the changing situation and got the jump safely down.
Six meters in nine races
The two-time World Cup winner who registered for the race in the USA Sam Kendricks withdrew from the race due to challenging circumstances. The prize draws are approaching, so would it have been worthwhile for Duplantis and others to skip the race?
– It may be smart at some point, but on the other hand, an athlete always has a desire to compete and win. There is quite a threshold for not skipping the race.
– Of course, even in a value race situation, there may be rain. It’s worth practicing for that, but of course the athlete has to make smart choices in that situation. You have to be a smaller rod and jump more confidently, Koivunen says.
Every pole vaulter knows that in such conditions a top result is not possible. It increases the value of Duplantis’ performance. He quickly overcame the challenges and eventually bent the top track result of 602.
Duplantis has already crossed six meters in nine races this year. Only once has he been left on the weaker side of six meters. Even then, the best result was as hard as 591.
He jumped new ME readings twice during the winter. The most recent of these is recorded at 620.
– The double result is actually a shockingly good rainfall result. You have to have good self-confidence to start jumping into such a rain, Koivunen praises.