On Thursday night, at the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver event, Armand Duplantis captivated the crowd as he got closer to breaking his own world record for the second year in a row.
In a packed venue, Duplantis displayed his exceptional prowess with a flawless first-time clearance at 6.02m – a significant achievement, marking his inaugural leap beyond six meters in 2024 after securing victories in Astana (5.80m) and Uppsala (5.92m). The anticipation peaked as he daringly elevated the bar to an ambitious world record height of 6.24m.
The tension escalated during Duplantis’ second attempt, arguably the closest of the three. This impressive performance suggests that Duplantis is currently at the pinnacle of his form, creating excitement for a potential world record revision at the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow from 1-3 March. The Swedish athlete is poised to defend three titles in 2024.
Duplantis had previously shattered the world record in Glasgow in 2020, achieving a clearance of 6.17m at the Emirates Arena. The prospect of witnessing another historic feat has fans eagerly anticipating the championships.
While Duplantis took center stage, the evening also showcased a local hero, Thibaut Collet. The French pole vaulter soared to an outright lifetime best of 5.92m, securing a second-place finish on countback, ahead of former two-time world champion Sam Kendricks.
Alysha Newman of Canada wowed the crowd in the equally fascinating women’s category by easily breaking a national record of 4.83 meters on her first try. She defeated American Bridget Williams on countback thanks to this incredible performance. Angelica Moser, the 2021 European indoor champion from Switzerland, vaulted the third-highest vault of her career to take third place with a season’s best of 4.73 meters. Following an evening of incredible athleticism and record-breaking performances by the All-Star Perche, spectators are looking forward to the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
