Young American Jacoby Thorpe, who shattered the world record in the 110-meter hurdles last month, earned his first professional victory Tuesday at the Budapest Athletics Meet, posting a remarkable time of 12.85 seconds despite easing up in the final meters. The 20-year-old American stunned the track and field world last month when he broke the world record with a time of 12.75 seconds during the NCAA championships, surpassing the mark set by fellow American Aries Merritt (12.80) on September 7, 2012. Thorpe started so strongly that he allowed himself to ease up a few meters before the finish line, which did not prevent him from recording the world's second-best time this year after his record. He finished ahead of compatriots Jamal Britt (13.01 seconds) and Cordell Tinch (13.06 seconds). The Budapest meeting also saw pole vault legend, Olympic and world champion Armand "Mondo" Duplantis of Sweden, win after clearing 6.07 meters, before failing in an attempt to improve his world record for the 16th time at 6.32 meters (one centimeter shy of his record of 6.31 meters set in March). Additionally, Olympic champions Masai Russell of the USA and Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia won their respective events, with the former clocking 12.33 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles and the latter 10.87 seconds in the 100 meters. In contrast, the day was more difficult for France's Cyréna Samba-Mayela. The Olympic silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles finished last in 13.09 seconds, far from the times she recorded earlier in the season (best 12.50 seconds).