Armand Duplantis of Sweden competes during the men's pole vault final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
SUZHOU, China, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis failed to set a new world record after securing gold at the second meeting of the 2024 Diamond League here on Saturday, while Chinese athletes claimed two silver and two bronze medals.
Having soared to his eighth world record of 6.24 meters at the season opener in Xiamen last week, Duplantis was looking to make history again.
In the final, Duplantis raised the bar directly to 6.25m after securing gold at 6.00m, but failed to clear the height on all three attempts amidst applause at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Center.
"I felt great today, really good. To jump six meters today and complete a very successful tour, I have a lot of good takeaways," said the 24-year-old.
"I just feel that conditions have to be perfect for me to jump a world record and I wasn't quite feeling it off the runway tonight. Now I go back home and train for a few weeks until my next competition in Ostrava," he added.
Tokyo Olympic champion Valarie Allman of the United States won the women's discus with a season's best of 69.86 meters on her fifth attempt. Local favorite Feng Bin also improved her season's best to 67.11m to take silver, while Yaime Perez of Cuba got bronze with 65.59m on her only valid throw.
"I've enjoyed an awesome trip in China. It was great to have two stacked back-to-back fields," said Allman. "Conditions were good today and it has been very motivating. My technique was a little bit off today, so to still get the win was very encouraging."
In the men's long jump, China's Wang Jianan just missed the gold, 0.01m shy of Marquis Dendy of the United States, while Suzhou local Shi Yuhao settled for bronze with 7.99m.
"The result today was not as good as I expected, I jumped 8.04m but I was aiming for 8.10m," Wang said. "I will be aiming to compete more confidently for the Olympic Games and improve the following season."
In the women's shot put, Tokyo Olympic champion Gong Lijiao of China failed to make the podium, while her compatriot Song Jiayuan claimed bronze with 19.83 meters, following Chase Jackson of the United States and Canada's Sarah Mitton.
Akani Simbine of South Africa stunned title favorites Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley in the men's 100m, while Daniel Roberts and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the men's and women's hurdles respectively. ■
Selemon Barega of Ethiopia waves to spectators after the men's 5000m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Akani Simbine (2nd R) of South Africa and Christian Coleman (1st R) of the United States react after the men's 100m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar looks on before the men's high jump final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Selemon Barega (R) of Ethiopia competes during the men's 5000m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Akani Simbine (L) of South Africa, Christian Coleman (C) of the United States and Fred Kerley of the United States compete during the men's 100m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Valarie Allman of the United States warms up during the women's discus throw final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Feng Bin of China reacts during the women's discus throw final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Valarie Allman of the United States competes during the women's discus throw final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Armand Duplantis of Sweden looks on during the men's pole vault final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Mekedes Alemeshete (1st L) of Ethiopia competes during the women's 5000m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Mekedes Alemeshete (front) of Ethiopia celebrates after the women's 5000m final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
Armand Duplantis of Sweden challenges the 6.25m height of the men's pole vault final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Shi Yuhao of China competes during the men's long jump final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Wang Jianan of China competes during the men's long jump final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
Gong Lijiao of China competes during the women's shot put final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Song Jiayuan of China reacts during the women's shot put final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Song Jiayuan (C) of China reacts after the women's shot put final at the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
