Strasbourg, France – Mehdi Baala set a new World leading mark with 3:31.05 at 1500m, the last event of the evening yesterday in Strasbourg, the third of the five meetings forming the new French professional circuit of “Lagardère Athlé Tour 2007”.

In his hometown favourite track, the Frenchman surpassed his own expectations, as his goal was to set the French qualifying standard (3:33.60) for the Osaka World Championships (25 August – 2 September).
 
“Now I can talk about Osaka, it’s a reality now,” said the 1500m double European champion (2002 and 2006).

Thomas Planque covered the first lap in 55.54, with Baala right on the required pace. The second pacemaker Abdesslam Kennouche went through 800m in 1:53.35 and 1000m 2:22.36. Mehdi Baala looked comfortable, took the lead at the bell and his 1200m split (2:50.06) indicated that Augustine Choge’s 2007 World leading mark (3:31.73) was under threat. With a last lap covered in 54.5, the Frenchman achieved 3:31.05, his 4th best ever mark, still far from his 3:28.98 National Record set four years ago.

His coach, Jean-Michel Dirringer, was delighted. “It was a remarkable race. During the first 500m, I noticed that Mehdi was in good shape. There was quite a hard pressure on him to run fast in front of his home crowd, but once again he did well on his favourite track.”

Baala, who didn’t want to release interviews before the race, explained “I was tensed although I had good feelings in my legs. I wanted to run 3:33 and I came up with 3:31 so I’m fully satisfied. My dream would be to run a sub 3:30 here one day.”

After having cancelled his indoor season through injury, Baala opened his season on 2000m in Lille on 8 June, with an easy 4:56.56 which showed an early great shape. On 23 June, he dominated a 1500m tactical race (3:47.36) for his 5th win at the European Cup.

“3:31 is a very interesting time, but that World leading mark needs to be put into perspective as there haven’t been great 1500m races so far, so we won’t see the World best runners together in action before Paris Saint-Denis Golden League (6 July),” said Dirringer.

Tahri takes 2000m steeplechase win

The coach had a successful evening in Hautepierre stadium has his other pupil, Bouabdellah Tahri, won the rarely-run 2000m Steeplechase, in a bid to improve his own European Best (5:15.96 since 2002). Unlike Baala, Tahri was unfortunate with the pace.

“The second pacemaker didn’t do his job and I was left alone during the last 900m, it was difficult to run the target time,” regretted the winner of the Munich European Cup’s 3000m last week-end.

The first kilometre was covered in 2:38.27 (2:37 was required). Tahri was timed in 4:01.57 at 1500m and his 59.84 last lap showed that he still had plenty of reserve after his 5:17.19 race.

The women’s Hammer Throw provided the deepest competition of the day. Manuèla Montebrun took the best of it with a fine series 71.62, 71.32, 72.08, 71.68, 71.93, 72.77.
 
“I’m relieved by my results today,” said the Frenchwoman who only threw 68.56 for 4th place at European Cup. “This will make me more relaxed for my next competition.” After showing great form this winter (73.34 in March), Montebrun’s preparation had been plagued by injuries. Amélie Perrin was second with 71.08 with Italian Ester Balassini third with 70.51.

First ever false start DQ for Arron

The sprint events were disturbed by several false starts, leading to the disqualification of the two favourites, Christine Arron and Martial Mbandjock.

Arron, 33, was aiming to find in Strasbourg some information on her current form. Since May 2006, a tendinopathy on her hamstring made her preparation difficult. Still under treatment and gradually improving training, Arron did a non-announced comeback at European Cup after nine months out of competition.

“In Munich, I felt relaxed like I was when I resumed competition after my pregnancy,” explained Arron whose son Ethan turned 5 the day of the Strasbourg meet. “I needed to break that long and stressful time off competition. My 11.36 (in “B” race) was not a great result though, I was tired and most of all lacked sleep. I felt much better during the relay later that afternoon. Today (in Strasbourg) I was less tired and ready to test myself”.

But Arron was disqualified for the first time of her career. “I’ve always been told that I’m a slow starter, and this time I reacted too fast... I felt great out of the blocks but that’s the rule". Amandine Allou Affoue (CIV) won in 11.57.

Without reference of note due to the false start, Christine Arron’s competition programme is yet to be announced.

Martial Mbanjock, 2nd in Munich with 10.29 behind Craig Pickering was also disqualified for false starting, while another Frenchman David Alerte withdrew after a problem during warm-up. The race went to Sherwin Vries (RSA) with 10.48.

Elsewhere, Young Talkmore Nyongani (ZIM) won the 400m in 45.91 from Leslie Djhone 46.08. Adrianna Lamalle took a very fast start and ran 13.08 against 1.2 wind at 100m Hurdles. Germans Alexander Straub and Alexander Viewig won the Pole Vault (5.50m) and the Javelin Throw (78.34m), respectively.

Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF