Mondo Duplantis Named National Athlete Of The Week

A Lafayette native has garnered a major athletic award.

A freshman, Duplantis set a Carl Maddox Field House record and 2019 world leading mark by clearing 19-feet-3 inches (5.87 meters) in the pole vault over the weekend.

Competing in Baton Rouge for the first time as a collegian, Duplantis' jump of 19’ 3” was not only best jump at the college level this year, but on the world stage as well.

The jump of 19' 3" also gives Duplantis the second-best jump in NCAA history, behind only Shawn Barber's jump of 19' 4.75", which he cleared back in 2015.

Duplantis becomes the first LSU male athlete and only the sixth freshman to receive this indoor award since it began in 2015.

A 7-time Louisiana state champion, Duplantis won the 2018 European title with a career-best clearance of 6.05 meters (19-10.25) while representing Sweden.