Three-time NCAA Division 1 champion clears 19-5.50 (5.93m) to eclipse Duplantis’ mark of 19-5 (5.92m) at LSU last season, elevating to No. 3 performer in the world this year

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Armand “Mondo” Duplantis might boast the world indoor record in the men’s pole vault following a memorable eight-day stretch in Europe earlier this month.

But South Dakota senior Chris Nilsen made sure Duplantis’ collegiate indoor record didn’t reach its one-year anniversary with his performance Friday at the Nebraska Tune-Up.

Nilsen cleared 19 feet, 5.50 inches (5.93m) on his second attempt to eclipse Duplantis’ indoor mark of 19-5 (5.92m) from the Southeastern Conference Championships during his freshman season at LSU.

Duplantis achieved the feat Feb. 22, 2019, to surpass the 19-4.75 (5.91m) clearance achieved by Akron’s Shawn Barber at the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships.

Duplantis still holds the collegiate outdoor record of 19-8.25 (6.00m) from the SEC Championships in May. Nilsen’s personal best remains 19-6.25 (5.95m), which remains third behind Duplantis and former Tennessee standout Lawrence Johnson, who cleared 19-7.50 (5.98m) in 1996.

Nilsen’s previous-best indoor clearance was 19-2.25 (5.85m) at the Drake Relays in April.

He entered the meet Friday with a season-best 19-1 (5.82m) from Feb. 7 at the South Dakota Alumni meet, before elevating to the No. 3 indoor performer in the world behind Duplantis and American record holder Sam Kendricks at 19-8.50 (6.01m). Nilsen took an attempt Friday at 19-9 (6.02m), before concluding competition.

“I did take one attempt at 6.02m and called it. I was pretty tired after 5.93m,” Nilsen said. “Both vaults were technically sound, and we figured out some things with the takeoff that will help a lot in the future. They weren’t the best I’ve taken, but they were in the direction of where we want to go.”

Duplantis, who raised the world indoor record to 20-3.25 (6.18m) on Feb. 15 in Scotland, is scheduled to compete again Sunday at the All-Star Vault in Clermont Ferrand, France.

Nilsen, the back-to-back Division 1 outdoor champion and 2017 indoor winner, is scheduled to next compete Feb. 28 at the Summit League Championships in Fort Wayne, Ind., followed by March 13 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.