EUGENE, Ore. — Sweden's Armand Duplantis didn't exactly remember soaring over the bar to set a new world record at the Prefontaine Classic. But knew what came next.
“I just looked up and the bar was still there,” he laughed.
Former LSU star Duplantis and Ethiopia distance runner Gudaf Tsegay both set new world records on Sunday to wrap up the season at the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet.
A native of Lafayette known as Mondo, Duplantis leaped 6.23 meters (20 feet, 5 ?inches). The reigning world champion broke his own record of 6.22 meters (20 feet, 4 ? inches) set indoors earlier this year.
He was swarmed by fellow competitors after clearing the jump then hopped onto the track’s railing and struck a victory pose for fans at Eugene's Hayward Field.
“We're not only competitors, but we really are brothers and we have a great time together out there,” Duplantis said. “To see them embrace me like that after doing a jump, breaking a world record, I'm thankful. I just feel very thankful.”
Earlier in the day, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay broke the world record in the 5,000 meters, finishing in 14:00.21.
The Prefontaine Classic, normally run in late May, was this year’s final stop on the international Diamond League circuit. The 32 champions crowned during the two-day meet earned $30,000 apiece.
It was the last major international track and field competition before the athletes begin gearing up for the Paris Olympics next summer.