Sam Kendricks of the United States competes during Men's Pole Vault Final on Day 5 of the 2017 IAAF World Championships at London Stadium in London, Britain, on Aug. 8, 2017. Sam Kendricks claimed the title with 5.95 metres. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
LONDON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sam Kendricks of the United States claimed the title of men's pole vault at the World Athletics Championships here on Tuesday.
Kendricks, who won bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics, cleared 5.95 meters for the gold. Poland's Piotr Lisek took silver with 5.89 and world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France won bronze.
China's Xue Changrui, who was sixth in Rio, finished fourth with 5.82, breaking the national record of 5.81 he set early last year. This was the best result Chinese athlete achieved in this event at World Championships or Olympic Games.
Kendricks, 24, was very delighted after the competition.
"I've finally got that world title and I could not be happier," he said. "I've enjoyed 10 straight victories this year, it is a blessing to get another today. I compete against these guys all the time so we are no strangers to one another. It was another fantastic competition today and I had to jump high to take the gold."
