Lavillenie soars to fifth career victory in Lausanne, first since 2014

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Renaud Lavillenie wasn’t able to prevail Saturday on his home turf in Paris, nor in any of his three meets during the past two weeks in France, but the seven-time Diamond League pole vault champion quickly rebounded to win his fifth competition of the year Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The men’s pole vault, held at Place de la Navigation alongside Lake Geneva, was a special event showcased the night before the annual Diamond League meeting at Stade de la Pontaise.

Lavillenie cleared 19 feet, 4.75 inches (5.91m) on his second attempt to prevail against Poland’s Pawel Wojciechowski, who had a season-best 19-2 (5.84m) clearance on his third try to remain in the competition. It was the fifth career win for Lavillenie in Lausanne, but the first since 2014.

Sam Kendricks, who won Saturday in Paris with a world-leading 19-6.50 (5.96m) and took attempts at breaking the American record with his three tries at 19-10.25 (6.05m), tied for third Wednesday with Australian Kurtis Marschall at 18-11.25 (5.77m).

Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, who ranks third this year with a World U-20 record 19-5.50 (5.93m), tied for fifth with Poland’s Piotr Lisek with an 18-8.25 (5.70m) clearance.

Duplantis will next compete July 11 at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.