Duplantis masterclass for fourth Euro pole vault title

Sweden's Armand Duplantis celebrates after winning a fourth European pole vault title (Ben STANSALL) Sweden's Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis delivered another slick masterclass in pole vaulting to claim a fourth European pole vault title in Birmingham on Sunday. Duplantis saw off Greek rival Emmanouil Karalis for victory with a championship record of 6.15 metres at Alexander Stadium. Karalis took silver with a clearance of 6.00m, while France's Baptiste Thiery claimed bronze (5.85). "Another medal, I can't complain," said Duplantis, the double Olympic champion who has also won three world golds. "It's really amazing. I'm just trying to win. "I'm happy coming out with the win and that was enough for tonight. "I really had a good time this week." Only three vaulters in the 14-strong field had gone over the 6m mark: Duplantis, Karalis, whose best is 6.17m, and Norway's Sondre Guttormsen, with a personal best of 6.06m. The entry point was 5.55 metres, a height that posed no problem for Duplantis or Karalis. Both vaulters passed as the bar was raised to 5.70m, which four other competitors failed to clear. The bar then went up to 5.85m, Duplantis, Karalis and France's Baptiste Thiery sailing over. There were five more casulaties, Guttormsen and Germany's Bo Kanda Lita Baehre passing after a couple of failures. With the bar at 5.95, the Norwegian and German failed, along with Thiery. Karalis went clear, with Duplantis passing. The bar went up to 6.00m and the US-born Swede failed with his first attempt, as did Karalis, with just the pair left in competition. Duplantis was successful on his second attempt to pile the pressure on the Greek, who delivered at the second time of asking. Both passed at 6.05m, Duplantis clearing 6.10m but Karalis bringing the bar down on his first attempt despite 'Zorba's Dance' booming out over the tannoy. Duplantis turned the screw as Karalis then passed, sailing over 6.15m, a championship record that beat the previous best of 6.10m he set in Rome two years ago. Karalis had nothing to lose so again passed and the bar went up to 6.20m. The Greek had one more attempt to stay in the competition, but just brushed the bar to bring it crashing down to end his evening. There was no tilt at a 16th world record for Duplantis, quick to don his tracksuit and pack up his poles as temperatures dipped. lp/ea