Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.30m* on his return to Tokyo, setting the 14th world pole vault record of his career at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Monday (15).
Back at the scene of his first senior global title win in 2021, the Swedish star managed his latest world record on his third and final attempt to claim his third consecutive World Championships crown and his eighth major senior international title in front of a packed and passionate crowd at the Japan National Stadium.
In a competition of record depth, Emmanouil Karalis of Greece cleared 6.00m to secure silver and Kurtis Marschall equalled his PB of 5.95m to clinch bronze on countback.
TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 15: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden celebrates with his partner, Desire Inglander, after setting a new world record by clearing an attempt at 6.30 Metres during the Men’s Pole Vault Final on day three of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
It is the first time that seven men have ever cleared 5.90m or higher in a single competition, and the first time that 5.95m has not been enough for a medal.
“It’s better than I could have imagined. To give you guys this world record is amazing. The crowd were so loud. Thank you so much. I’m just so happy.”
Rogers goes No.2 all time to retain hammer title
Canada’s Camryn Rogers moved to second on the world all-time list with 80.51m to retain her hammer title at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Monday (15).
The 26-year-old, who claimed the Olympic title in Paris, now sits second behind only Anita Wlodarczyk on that all-time list and Rogers was only 34cm off Wlodarczyk’s championship record with the North American record she achieved in the second round in Tokyo.
She backed it up with three other throws beyond 78 metres.
China’s Zhao Jie and Zhang Jiale secured silver and bronze, respectively, after a thrilling final round. Zhang moved into silver medal position with 77.10m from her final attempt but then Zhao responded with a PB of 77.60m to regain the runner-up spot.
Simbu secures Tanzania’s first global gold to kick off third morning
After 26 miles around the streets of Tokyo, the men’s marathon came down to a thrilling sprint finish as Alphonce Felix Simbu pipped Amanal Petros by the narrowest of margins to kick off the third day of competition at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Monday (15).
In winning by just three hundredths of a second – both athletes crossing the finish line in the Japan National Stadium in 2:09:48 but with Simbu a fraction ahead – the Tanzanian 33-year-old became his nation’s first ever global gold medallist.
He adds this world title to the world marathon bronze he claimed in London in 2017 and his runner-up finishes at the Boston Marathon earlier this year and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Germany’s Petros had led as the race left the roads and entered the stadium, and he was still to the fore as they hit the final straight, but Simbu timed his kick to perfection.
They were followed over the finish line by Italy’s Iliass Aouani, bronze medallist in 2:09:53.
Beamish ends El Bakkali’s reign
Geordie Beamish used a powerful kick to end Soufiane El Bakkali’s streak of major 3000m steeplechase title wins and gain the first gold of the evening session.
As was the case when he won the world indoor 1500m title last year, Beamish bided his time in a slow and tactical race, then switched into top gear in the closing stages, catching defending champion El Bakkali before the line to win in 8:33.88 – securing a surprise victory for New Zealand.
Morocco’s El Bakkali secured silver this time, clocking 8:33.95, while Kenya’s Edmund Serem claimed bronze in 8:34.56.
In the rounds…
Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg made a statement in men’s hammer qualifying during Monday’s morning session. He threw 81.85m from his first attempt – father than his world gold medal-winning mark from Budapest two years ago. Other automatic qualifiers for the final include world leader Bence Halasz, Pawel Fajdek and Rudy Winkler.
Defending champion Femke Bol cruised through the 400m hurdles heats. She’ll be joined in the semifinals by Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell and 2019 world champion Dalilah Muhammad, who plans to retire at the end of the season.
Defending champion Winfred Yavi, Faith Cherotich and Peruth Chemutai won their heats to lead the list of qualifiers for the steeplechase final.
Defending champion Katie Moon and her fellow global gold medallists Marie-Julie Bonnin and Sandi Morris were among the 14 athletes to qualify for the pole vault final. They won’t be joined by 2024 world indoor champion Molly Caudery or world bronze medallist Wilma Murto, however, as Caudery was taken from the track in a wheelchair and did not start, and Murto was unable to record a mark.
Final Results – Day 3
Men
Marathon: Alphonce Simbu (TAN) – 2:09:48, Amanal Petros (GER) – 2:09:48, Iliass Aouani (ITA) – 2:09:53
3000m Steeplechase: Geordie Beamish (NZL) – 8:33.88, Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) – 8:33.95, Edmund Serem (KEN) – 8:34.56
Pole Vault: Armand Duplantis (SWE) – 6.30 WR, Emmanouil Karalis (GRE) – 6.00, Kurtis Marschall (AUS) – 5.95
Women
Hammer Throw: Camryn Rogers (CAN) – 80.51 WL, Zhao Jie (CHN) – 77.60 PB, Zhang Jiawen (CHN) – 77.10
100m Hurdles: Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) – 12.24 NR, Tobi Amusan (NGR) – 12.29, Grace Stark (USA) – 12.34
