Bouabdellah Tahri in Brussels 2008 (© Getty Images)
Bouabdellah Tahri broke the World 2000m Steeplechase best with 5:13.47 on Tomblaine stadium last night (25) during the Meeting Stanislas-Nancy, the 3rd episode of Alma Athlé Tour, the French professional circuit.
The Frenchman who took the silver medal at the 3000m Steeplechase at World Championships last year in Berlin breaking the European record (8:01.18) in the process, chose to start this season just like the successful 2009, with a rarely contested 2000m Steeplechase in Nancy.
Many times before Tahri had failed to topple the 1990 mark (5:14.43) set by the then-Olympic champion Julius Kariuiki from Kenya, including one year ago when he broke his own European best with 5:15.36.
However, this time, the race plan was carefully studied, and two Kenyan pacemakers were chosen to start the race on a 63sec lap basis. Unfortunately, they went too fast (60.9, with Tahri in about 61.5) and reached 500m in 1:15.8. The pace slightly decreased, to the point that it was perfectly on target, as they passed at 1000m in 2:35.7.
“I then shouted to (pacemaker) Chelimo : twendé, twendé!, which means go on! in Swahili language,” explained Tahri, who as been using training camps in Kenya in the last couple of years. As a result of the too fast initial pace, Chelimo left Tahri by himself with 700m to go, and the 1500m was covered in 3:57.09. The Frenchman had to increase his speed to chase the clock, and found enough resources to accelerate in the last straight, and broke the World Best by almost one second.
“Chelimo was supposed to leave the race with 450m to go but he did it too early, and I had to chase the record by my own means,” stated Tahri. Even if it’s a rare event, the level of this record is high, so I’m satisfied to open my season this way. The temperature was a little too warm, making a contrast with Font-Romeux’s snow where was until two days ago for my high altitude training camp.”
Last year, after he ran 5:14.43, he contested a 1500m in Villeneuve d’Ascq (3:36.40) and a 3000m steeple in Metz, where he ran 8:02.19, then a European Record. Since he felt better after the 2000m steeplechase during the 2nd race rather than the 3rd one, Tahri will delete the 1500m of his 2010 programme. His next race will then be Metz on 29 June.
“Intrinsically, he is 1sec faster than last year at the same period,” analysed coach Jean-Michel Dirringer. “However, in a perfect race if such a thing exists, he can run 5:12. In Metz, we know that our pacemaker Chelimo will not be able to continue up to 2400m like last year. But compared to then, Bob has not improved over the obstacle but is faster on the flat. It’s good to do such a well organised race against the clock only once a year, if Bob doesn’t reach his dream in that race - running under 8min - there won’t be such an incentive anymore this season because we are looking forward to racing against the best Kenyans. The 8min barrier has only been broken by eight men in history.”
Lavillenie close at 6.02m
Pole Vaulter Renaud Lavillenie secured a 6th consecutive win - including Oslo and New York Diamond League meetings - with 5.82m, before missing narrowly at 6.02 at his 3rd attempt.
“At last, I competed in good weather,” stated Lavillenie. “Ironically, in such conditions, I had to change my approach, I had to use a textbook model of run up and jump, which contrasts with the other competitions where I had to adapt to the wind, the cold and adjust all the elements of my technique. Today, I was able to put in place the jump on which I’m working at training.”
Romain Mesnil was unable to jump higher than 5.55m, and so Jerome Clavier was Lavillenie’s main challenger of the day, as he made 5.70 but failed three times at 5.82, a bar which Lavillenie cleared at his 3rd attempt.
“I had to take a bigger pole for the higher bars and since I was now alone in competition, I decided to skip 5.92 and try 6.02,” explained Lavillenie, who is the national record holder (6.01). His 3rd attempt provoked a roar in the crowd as Lavillenie’s body was well over 6.02, but his chest made the bar fall while he was descending.
“I prefer to closely miss 6.02 than clear 5.92, at least, I know what I’m worth,” he stated.
Lavillenie’s coach Damien Inocencio commented, “he did a little mistake on his checking mark, he was a little bit close, and only 5cm depth was missing. However, he is able to jump higher with the same big pole he used last year, that means that he has improved technically.”
His competition programme includes the Samsung Diamond League meetings in Lausanne (8 July) and Paris Saint-Denis (17 June), and then the French Champs (8-10 July) and the European Championships in Barcelona (27 July-1st August).
Ruddy Zang Milama wins; Comeback for Mang and Arron
The women’s 100m saw Gabon’s Ruddy Zang Milama start powerfully and resist a strong comeback from France’s Véronique Mang. In 11.19 (w+0.4), the 1m56/50kg Zang kept a slight 0.01sec advantage over Mang. “I did a very good start, a good transition but I lost control of my speed! I wanted to break my 11.18 personal best but I’m not too upset.”
Mang, 2nd in 11.20, shed tears when she was told it was a European leading mark. "Today, my work was to focus on my way of running, and I respected this contract with myself. I’m pleased because I found a way to put in place a good finish. Now, I have to remain focused as other Europeans can pop up any time so this is not the end,” predicted Mang, who came back after a couple of years away from the track. Also away from the track because of hip injuries was European Record holder (10.73 in 1998) Christine Arron, who backed-up her 11.50 opening race last week with a 3rd place in Nancy with 11.39.
Mbandjock 200m PB
With 20.39sec (wind +1.0), Martial Mbandjock made the French standard (20.50) for Barcelona at 200m a few days after his 20.55 win at European Team Championships in Bergen. Already qualified at 100m (10.09), the Los-Angeles based Frenchman wanted to reach the required time at 200m as soon as possible, hence he asked Nancy’s organisation to change the 100m into a 200m. He justified his request with a very strong last straight, catching South African Simon Magakwe (20.44) in the last meters. Mbandjock, with 20.39, set a new personal best.
“In Bergen, I used my power too much instead of my feet, so I was keen to correct that mistake here. Still, today I used too much power at the start without enough frequency. Now, I will prepare the 100m for Valence and the triple 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Barcelona.”
World finalist last year, David Alerte placed 3rd in 20.49, a encouraging return from injury.
Salim Sdiri, another contender for the European title, impressed at Long Jump with a final attempt measured at 8.23 (w+1.4). “I was cautious regarding the (take-off) board on my first jump (8.20), and then I had several fouls but all over 8m. For the last one, I found myself too far from the plasticine so I had to lengthen my run-up strides and still did 8.23, all these are good signs for me. I had a dodgy start to the season, because I had a flu for one month, I was tired everyday at training and now I’ve finally recovered», explained Sdiri, who was satisfied to have reached the standard for Barcelona.
Djhone goes only for the win
Leslie Djhone took the lead of the 400m on the last bend to win in 45.72sec.
“I was disturbed by the false starts before the actual race, but the good point is that I was able to reply to Ofentse Mogawane (RSA, 2nd in 45.95) before we entered the homestretch,” recalled the quintuple Olympic or World finalist at 400m. “The bad point was that I ran this race like it was a championships, I mean just ran to win and did not run against the clock, that’s why my next race, a 300m in Sweden, will force me to open harder. I’m still into a heavy training load and I’m looking forward to next months when my legs will be fresher!”
2001 World Champion Amy Mbacké Thiam of Senegal took the women’s 400m in 51.48sec from Frenchwomen Virginie Michanol 51.87 and Muriel Hurtis-Houairi 52.05.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
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