There was never really any doubt that Armand Duplantis would win the pole vault at the athletics gala in Hengelo.
When the Swede sailed over the bar at 5.80, no one else could match him.
Duplantis then chose to set the bar at 6.01 – to take over the world-year best from the American Chris Nilsen who managed six meters at home in the USA.
Despite the slightly chilly weather in the Netherlands, Duplantis sailed over even that height already in the first attempt, with a little tremor on the crossbar.
In the World Cup resort Eugene earlier this spring, the 22-year-old had to settle for “only” 5.92, but with just over a month left until the championship, he has now started a new suite with competitions over six meters.
In the ball competition, Fanny Roos finished in fifth place. In a starting field where several of the participants set the season’s best, Roos’ 18.57, half a meter from her own season’s best, was not enough to put her in the top battle. The winner was the American Chase Ealey who supported both personal best and world year best with 19.98.
Meraf Bahta ran in the 10,000 meters in 31.51.53, a time that was enough for place 19.