Baton Rouge, La. – Mondo Duplantis became the first man in LSU track and field history to be named a finalist for The Bowerman the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Thursday. Duplantis is one of three finalists with Florida’s Grant Holloway and Texas Tech’s Divine Oduduru.
Duplantis, who has since turned pro following his freshman season, made the most of his year in the Purple and Gold by winning the NCAA indoor pole vault title, sweeping the indoor/outdoor pole vault titles at the SEC Championships, and setting both the indoor/outdoor collegiate records in the pole vault.
The native of Lafayette, La., went 8-1 in pole vault finals this year while representing LSU. He started his season off indoors with a perfect 5-0 record. He won titles at the Razorback Invitational (5.83 meters/19’ 1.50”), Bayou Bengal Invitational (5.87 meters/19’ 3”), LSU Twilight (5.68 meters/18’ 7.50”), SEC Championships (5.92 meters/19’ 5”) and NCAA Championships (5.83 meters/19’ 1.50”). His 5.92 meter clearance at the SEC indoor meet broke Shawn Barber’s collegiate indoor record of 5.91 meters that he set in 2015 while also setting a Swedish national record, and his NCAA clearance of 5.83 meters made him the second man in LSU history to win a pole vault national title indoors alongside Russ Buller (2000). Mondo was the first man in collegiate history with at least four clearances of 19’ 1.50” (5.83 meters) or better indoors.
