Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs won his first competition since his gold medal in Tokyo, winning the 60m at the Berlin meeting on Friday, while Armand Duplantis narrowly failed in his record attempt of the world.
During this indoor ISTAF meeting, the Swedish Olympic pole vault champion failed to pass 6.19m, and thus improve his own world record (6.18m), after winning the competition with a pole vault. 6.03m.
For his part, Jacobs returned as the winner with a time of 6”51, more than five months after his Olympic exploits (gold medals in the 100m and 4x100m with Italy) which had stunned the world.
He had completed his preparation with a one-month internship in the Canary Islands, in Tenerife, and came to Berlin to perfect his adjustments.
I am very happy with my feelings in this first race. I hope to run a little faster but, after such a long period without competition, it’s normal to need to find the rhythm.
Marcell Jacobs
Vicaut 3rd
Jacobs, 27, beat Ivorian Arthur Cissé (6”60) and Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut (6”61) in the final.
His stated goal for the indoor season is to beat the European 60m record, held since 2009 by Britain’s Dwain Chambers in 6”42.
Seconds after Jacobs’ victory, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis sent shivers through the Berlin arena, hitting the bar at 6.19m on his second and third attempts.
“I really liked my second try because I felt like I had the height to pass,” said the 22-year-old Swede.
I am at a point in my career where I progress in small steps (…) I know what I have to do, I have all the pieces of the puzzle to beat my personal record.
Armand Duplantis
In Berlin, he crossed 6.03 m, his best performance of the season after the 6.02 m erased last week in Karlsruhe (Germany) for his comeback.