Mehdi Baala of France wins the men’s 1500 metres - 2004 European Cup (© Getty Images)
Less than a week after the European Cup in Florence, Italy, at the Strasbourg meeting on Thursday (23 June) joined most of the current inform French athletes.
Local hero Mehdi Baala, World 1500m silver medallist, confirmed his fine 2005 early form in the 2000m, setting a world leading performance and a new French Record with 4:53.12. “Running such a meet in my own town is almost as stressful as World Championships. The European record (4:51.39 by Steve Cram) will come later”. It was a debut at this unusual distance who has rarely competed in races longer than 1500m.
Distance races made the show as German René Herms won a high quality 800m race in 1:44.88 and French Gaël Pencreach set qualifying mark for the World Championships (8:18.18). Hind Dehiba-Chahyd just missed the 2min barrier she was looking for at the female 800m, in 2:00.59.
High Jumper Melanie Skotnik erased her deceivingly poor Florence performance (1.88) with 1.95, just 1 centimetre off the 20 years old French record set by Maryse Ewangé-Epée, and only 2 cm off her own personal best. This is her highest jump since her switch to French citizenship, her mother’s country.
Pognon and Arron are victorious
Florence winners Ronald Pognon and Christine Arron won their respective Strasbourg 100m races in 10.17 and 11.18.
In a still wind, these times are almost matching their last week 10.06 (w+2.1m/s) and 11.09 (w+1.3m/s). Pognon’s goal to break the 10.02 national mark has been delayed but more impressive was his margin of victory over 200m Olympic finalist Tobias Unger (10.39).
Arron’s relatively poor time for her was still relieving after her cramp problems at the 4x100m relay last weekend. This trouble was caused by fatigue accumulation and was confirmed by a blood analysis. After proper rest, the European record holder (10.73) is picking up three weeks before the national championships.
The men’s 400m provided a close race, as Gary Kikaya (CGO) crossed the line just before Young Talkmore Nyongani (ZIM) 45.05 and 45.10 respectively. Leslie Djhone was a distant 3rd in spite of his usual flying last straigth (45.56).
The next stop for international French meetings will be on July 1st with the first step of the TDK Golden League meeting in Saint-Denis, Paris.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
Editor's note - we apologise for the late publishing of this report which was beyond our contol
