This Week in Athletics we have new world records, new British Records, the surprise conclusion of Grand Slam Track and more.

Mondo Soars To More History At Home

Armand Duplantis continues to write his storied legacy as he broke the men’s pole vault world record for the 12th time on Sunday. The Swede vaulted to the record height of 6.28 in his final round at the Stockholm Diamond League finally achieving his long awaited dream of breaking the world record on home soil. 

It was a successful night for many British hopefuls in the Swedish capital as well with Georgia Hunter Bell making a late surge to take the win in the Women’s 800m. The Olympic 1500m Bronze medalist was sat at the back of the field with 300m remaining after 2023 World Champion Mary Moraa aimed to tactically slow down the pack in preparation for her own late kick. 

But as the Kenyan entered the home straight she was joined by Prudence Sekgodiso on her shoulder before Hunter Bell made a late push around the outside to sneak the win in a time of 1:57.66. 

The race had been marred in the build up with headlines surrounding Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson’s withdrawal from what would have been her season opener due to nursing an achilles injury. Fellow Brit Jemma Reekie finished fifth in a season's best time of 1:58.66.

Dina Asher Smith continued her impressive week following a third place finish in Oslo on Thursday with a 2nd place in the women’s 100m in a time of 10.93. Daryyll Neita finished down in fifth place with a season's best time of 11.17 in a fiercely quick race won by olympic champion Julian Alfred with a meeting record of 10.75. 

Indoor 400m World Champion Amber Anning also impressed with a time of 50.17 and a third place finish which moves her into the top three in the Diamond League standings for the season so far.

Oslo Chaos Brings British Record For Mills

Before the Diamond League headed to Stockholm it made a pit stop in the Norwegian capital of Oslo on Thursday where a piece of British history occurred. 

George Mills took on a 5000m field stacked with olympic and national champions set on running a world record time. 

With a seemingly ever increasing pace as the laps ticked by Nico Young stormed to the win and an American Record time of 12:45.27. Before Mills crossed the line in fourth clocking 12:46.59 a new British Record. 

The Brit had initially aimed to take out the British and European Record and you can see his reaction from the race here. 

Cairess and Keith Take 10k Titles

The University of Birmingham Track Festival incorporated the UK 10,000m championships over the weekend and it was Olympic marathon star Emile Cairess who took the men’s title in a personal best time of 27:27.95 with Scot Megan Keith taking the women’s title with a time of 31:19.88.

Elsewhere at the festival U20 rising star Jess Bailey took a 3000m outdoor PB with an impressive time of 8:55.00.

Grand Slam Track Ends Inaugural Season Early 

Grand Slam Track has officially confirmed the cancellation of its planned last and fourth meeting of the inaugural season in Los Angeles (28/29 June), citing amongst other factors a change in the ‘global economic landscape’.

“The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track season is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season, and the importance of looking towards 2026 and beyond,” Michael Johnson said in a press release.