Eric Milazar at the 2007 World championships in Osaka (© Getty Images)
Beirut, LebanonThe 3rd day (3) of the Francophone Games in Beirut hosted a rematch of the previous edition’s women's 400m, as Nadjina Kaltouma of Chad beat Senegal's Fatou Binetou Fall in 51.04.
The defending champion Kaltouma, 32, was a huge favourite with regards to her track pedigree, which includes a fifth place at the 2001 World Championships as well as three golds at Mediterranean Games (200m in 2001 and 2005, 400m in 2005). Lining up in lane four, just in front of Fall, she took the best of her rival from the start as the Senegalese had a poor 0.372 reaction followed by a cautious first half of the race. Kaltouma was actually never challenged and won by 1.86sec in 51.04, her fastest time since 2004.
The old guard dominated the 400m in the men’s event as well. Eric Milazar, 34, three times an African Champion and two times a World Championships finalist (2001 and 2003), won his first Francophone Games title after a second place in 2001. He was pushed by Mathieu Gnaligo (Benin), 12 years his junior and defending champion who was the fastest out of the blocks (0.172) and pushed Milazar from the back to set his season best of 46.00. Gnaligo was timed in 46.03 for second place.
Morocco dominates men’s steeplechase, women’s 800m
Emulating their teammates from Fridays’s 1500m, Moroccans dominated their event to take a gold and silver medal sweep. Abdellatif Chemlal, a 8:15.63 performer in 2009, made the pace for the first kilometre, relayed by Chakir Boujattaoui, who also set his personal best this year in 8:13.83 at the second kilometre (5:50.02). However, Chemlal had the fastest finish and won by almost a full second in 8:40.18.
Another double for Morocco came in the women’s 800m. Iuliana Tudorita Popescu (ROM) led the pack at the bell in 1:00.29 but eventually faded to 7th place in 2:06.54. In front, Francophone Games title defender Seltana Ait Hammou took the best of Halima Hachlaf in the final sprint, to win in 2:02.62. Like Kaltouma Nadjina at 200m and 400m, Ait Hammou is on her way to duplicate her 800m-1500m double win of the previous Games edition, by the end of the week.
France and Tunisia battle in the Walks
The Race Walks took place in the morning in warm conditions (26° C) and turned out to be a dual between France and Tunisia for both men and women. Frenchman Hervé Davaux led the 20km race from the start and easily replied to Tunisian Hassanin Sebai’s attack at the fifth kilometre to sail to a 1:25:35 victory, finishing three minutes before his rival.
The women’s 10km race was a closer contest. Like Devaux, Christine Ginaudeau made the pace, but Trabbssi Chaima took over in the third kilometre and remained in front, increasing her lead in the last stages. The Tunisian winner was timed in 48:27 and the French placed second in 49:10.
Burkina Faso men surprise to take 4x100m crown
The 4x100m Relays concluded the third day of competition with a surprise from Burkina Faso. Having only run the fourth fastest time in the heats, the quartet of Son-Sanou-Bologo-Kobiane improved from 40.41 to 39.57 to win the final, from a Mauritious squad which included 400m winner Milazar, which clocked 39.60.
Canada logically won the women's race in 44.78, with 100m Francophone champion Genevieve Thibault on the anchor leg.
Elsewhere, Romanians Alina Militaru won the women's Long Jump (6.49m, w +2.7) and Ileana Sorescu took top honours in the Discus Throw (54.28m).
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
The defending champion Kaltouma, 32, was a huge favourite with regards to her track pedigree, which includes a fifth place at the 2001 World Championships as well as three golds at Mediterranean Games (200m in 2001 and 2005, 400m in 2005). Lining up in lane four, just in front of Fall, she took the best of her rival from the start as the Senegalese had a poor 0.372 reaction followed by a cautious first half of the race. Kaltouma was actually never challenged and won by 1.86sec in 51.04, her fastest time since 2004.
The old guard dominated the 400m in the men’s event as well. Eric Milazar, 34, three times an African Champion and two times a World Championships finalist (2001 and 2003), won his first Francophone Games title after a second place in 2001. He was pushed by Mathieu Gnaligo (Benin), 12 years his junior and defending champion who was the fastest out of the blocks (0.172) and pushed Milazar from the back to set his season best of 46.00. Gnaligo was timed in 46.03 for second place.
Morocco dominates men’s steeplechase, women’s 800m
Emulating their teammates from Fridays’s 1500m, Moroccans dominated their event to take a gold and silver medal sweep. Abdellatif Chemlal, a 8:15.63 performer in 2009, made the pace for the first kilometre, relayed by Chakir Boujattaoui, who also set his personal best this year in 8:13.83 at the second kilometre (5:50.02). However, Chemlal had the fastest finish and won by almost a full second in 8:40.18.
Another double for Morocco came in the women’s 800m. Iuliana Tudorita Popescu (ROM) led the pack at the bell in 1:00.29 but eventually faded to 7th place in 2:06.54. In front, Francophone Games title defender Seltana Ait Hammou took the best of Halima Hachlaf in the final sprint, to win in 2:02.62. Like Kaltouma Nadjina at 200m and 400m, Ait Hammou is on her way to duplicate her 800m-1500m double win of the previous Games edition, by the end of the week.
France and Tunisia battle in the Walks
The Race Walks took place in the morning in warm conditions (26° C) and turned out to be a dual between France and Tunisia for both men and women. Frenchman Hervé Davaux led the 20km race from the start and easily replied to Tunisian Hassanin Sebai’s attack at the fifth kilometre to sail to a 1:25:35 victory, finishing three minutes before his rival.
The women’s 10km race was a closer contest. Like Devaux, Christine Ginaudeau made the pace, but Trabbssi Chaima took over in the third kilometre and remained in front, increasing her lead in the last stages. The Tunisian winner was timed in 48:27 and the French placed second in 49:10.
Burkina Faso men surprise to take 4x100m crown
The 4x100m Relays concluded the third day of competition with a surprise from Burkina Faso. Having only run the fourth fastest time in the heats, the quartet of Son-Sanou-Bologo-Kobiane improved from 40.41 to 39.57 to win the final, from a Mauritious squad which included 400m winner Milazar, which clocked 39.60.
Canada logically won the women's race in 44.78, with 100m Francophone champion Genevieve Thibault on the anchor leg.
Elsewhere, Romanians Alina Militaru won the women's Long Jump (6.49m, w +2.7) and Ileana Sorescu took top honours in the Discus Throw (54.28m).
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
