In front of packed stands at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, the 24-year-old had a perfect record up to and over 6.00m and with the competition won, he then put the bar up to a world record height of 6.25m, coming close in his three attempts.
“It was very important for me to come and jump well today, make sure I got the win over a tough group of guys,” he said. “I never complain when I jump over six metres and get a Diamond league win.”
Duplantis admitted “there's always a little bit of a crash” after setting a world record, as he’d done seven days earlier in Xiamen, clearing 6.24m. “I knew I was going to have to push it a little bit harder. It wasn't going to come as natural as last week.”
He said he will now have “a few weeks of chilling out and being able to train” before his next competition in Ostrava. Belgium’s Ben Broeders and USA’s Sam Kendricks finished tied for second on the night, both clearing 5.82m.
On the track, South Africa’s Akani Simbine came from behind to beat Christian Coleman in the men’s 100m, Simbine running down the 2019 world champion late to win in 10.01 (-0.1m/s) to Coleman’s 10.04, with 2022 world champion Fred Kerley third in 10.11.
“We always know that the last part of my race is pretty strong and it shows,” said Simbine. “I’m happy with coming out here and replicating what I did last week at nationals and having a strong last part.”
Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn made it two from two in this Diamond League season by winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.63 (0.3m/s) ahead of Devynne Charlton (12.64) and Danielle Williams (12.74). The race had some drama after world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria was disqualified for a false start. She went on to run under protest, finishing virtually in line with Camacho-Quinn, but her result did not stand.
Valarie Allman continued her fine form with a season’s best to win the women’s discus, the Olympic champion launching a 69.86m effort in the fifth round. Next best was China’s Feng Bin who threw 67.11m, while Cuba’s Yaimé Pérez settled for third with 65.59m.
“I feel like things were so close to connecting to that big throw,” said Allman. “But I'm all into trying to make it happen and excited to get back with my coach and put in the work. It's giving me some good confidence at this point in the year.”
Hamish Kerr of New Zealand took the men’s high jump, the world indoor champion getting back to winning ways with a 2.31m clearance. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim took a step forward in second, clearing 2.29m, while USA’s Vernon Turner was third with 2.27m.
Britain’s Daryll Neita left the field trailing in the women’s 200m, coming home a wide-margin winner in 22.62 (0.2m/s) ahead of US duo Anavia Battle (22.99) and Sha’Carri Richardson (23.11). “My coach has been killing me in workouts so I really had no idea how I was going to do today,” said Neita. “I came here praying and hoping for the win and to come out and win it in a decent time in such a strong field, I feel really confident going forward.”
USA’s Daniel Roberts backed up his win last week in Xiamen with another victory in the 110m hurdles, clocking 13.12 (0.8m/s) to beat Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment of Jamaica (13.26). “It wasn't the cleanest race, but I'm happy to come out and get the win,” said Roberts. “I just felt a little sluggish today. I don't know if the jet lag hit just now, but I just had to fight through it.”
Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega utilised his vicious finishing speed to take the men’s 5000m in a meeting record of 12:55.68, with his countryman Biniam Mehary second in 12:56.37 and Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat third in a PB of 12:58.78. Barega revealed after that the 10,000m would be his chief focus at the Paris Olympics.
Beatrice Chepkoech proved a class apart in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, the world record holder putting on an exhibition despite dealing with “a knee and stomach problem” to win in 9:07.36 ahead of Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (9:15.46) and Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause (9:16.24).
The women’s 400m saw another home-straight demonstration by world champion Marileidy Paulino, the Dominican pulling clear late to win in 50.89 ahead of USA’s Talitha Diggs (51.77) and Sada Williams of Barbados (52.00). “I felt good, but I don't like the time,” said Paulino, who said she needs to start faster in her upcoming races.
In the men’s 800m, Algeria’s Slimane Moula fought off the charge from Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal to win in 1:44.55 to Kinyamal’s 1:44.88, with USA’s Clayton Murphy third in 1:45.18.
Chase Jackson produced a 20.03m throw to take the women’s shot put, with Canada’s Sarah Mitton second with 19.86m and China’s Song Jiayuan third with 19.83m.
“I'm just really trying to get consistent and confident in what I'm doing,” said Jackson. “So doing stuff like this at Diamond Leagues where I was fine-tuning my technique with nice and easy throws, but they were still feeling good and going far. I want to keep doing that to build the confidence into (US) Trials and then the Olympics because I think the medals are up for grabs.”
USA’s Marquis Dendy edged a tight contest in the men’s long jump, his second-round effort of 8.05m (-0.2m/s) giving him victory over Chinese duo Wang Jianan (8.04m) and Shi Yuhao (7.99m).
“Today was definitely a technical day,” said Dendy. “I got to come over here, get adjusted and get on my marks early. Staying consistent is my main goal and also staying healthy. April wins are definitely very rare so whenever you can get it, you want to appreciate it.”
In the women’s javelin, world champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan got her season off to a strong start with a victory, throwing 62.97m, with Australia’s Mackenzie Little second with 62.12m and Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado third with 60.70m.
Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso claimed victory in the women’s long jump, her opening-round effort of 6.68m handing her victory over USA’s Quanesha Burks (6.59m) and Serbia’s Milica Gardasevic (6.52m). “It's my first time to win the Diamond League, I'm very happy,” said Koala, who said she has two goals for the year: to break seven metres and become the first woman from Burkina Faso to win an Olympic medal.
In the women’s 5000m, a non-Diamond League event, Ethiopia’s Mekedes Alemeshete set a world lead and PB of 14:36.70 to take a narrow victory over compatriots Ayal Dagnachew (14:36.86) and Letesenbet Gidey (14:37.13).