France’s Marie-Julie Bonnin secured victory in the women’s pole vault at the Nanjing Cube, equalling the national record of 4.75 metres in a competition disrupted by a technical malfunction.
The 23-year-old French athlete, who had three unsuccessful attempts at 4.80m, emerged triumphant after an intense battle against Slovenia’s Tina Sutej and Switzerland’s European champion Angelica Moser.
“I think I managed it really well. I’m very proud and happy,” Bonnin said after her win.
Sutej claimed silver with a best clearance of 4.70m, edging out Moser on countback. Defending champion Molly Caudery of Britain finished fourth, missing out on the podium after failing to clear 4.75m.
The event saw significant drama when a lengthy delay occurred due to a technical issue with the machinery used to lift the bar.
The disruption affected several competitors, including American Gabriela Leon, Italy’s Elisa Molinarolo, and Czech vaulter Amalie Svabikova, all of whom failed to clear 4.70m.
Italy’s Roberta Bruni then attempted 4.75m, which would have set a new national record, but was unsuccessful. This left four contenders—Caudery, Sutej, Moser, and Bonnin—fighting for podium positions.
All four vaulters failed their first attempts at 4.75m, but Bonnin was the only one to succeed on her second try, setting a national benchmark and increasing the pressure on her rivals.
Moser was the first to exit with three failed attempts, followed by Caudery, who narrowly missed clearing the height after grazing the bar on her descent.
Sutej remained in contention but was unable to clear 4.75m on her final attempt, securing Bonnin’s victory and marking a milestone in French athletics.
Holloway Cruises into Semi-Finals
In the men’s 60m hurdles, American star Grant Holloway coasted into the semi-finals on Saturday, with the final scheduled for 13:05 GMT.
The two-time world indoor champion is aiming to extend an extraordinary win streak, having remained unbeaten in indoor hurdles races since 2014.
Including both the 55m and 60m hurdles, Holloway has now won an astonishing 92 consecutive indoor races.
A victory in Sunday’s final would earn him a historic third straight world indoor title, a feat unmatched since American Allen Johnson, who won three titles in 1995, 2003, and 2004, but not in consecutive editions.
Exciting Finals Await in Nanjing
The evening session will see a highly anticipated showdown in the men’s pole vault, where world record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis is set to compete.
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen will also take center stage in the men’s 3,000m as he begins his quest for a track double.
Other key events include the finals in the women’s triple jump and 3,000m, as well as both men’s and women’s 400m races.
Italy’s European champion Zaynab Dosso also impressed, leading qualifiers into the women’s 60m semi-finals with a heat-winning time of 7.09 seconds. The final, scheduled for 12:18 GMT, will conclude the second day of competition in Nanjing.
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