Dayron Robles (c) and Ladji Doucouré (l) in Sotteville (© Jiro Mochizuki)
SottevillelèsRouen, FranceNew World record holder** Dayron Robles was the main attraction of the 20th edition of the meeting of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, held yesterday, which served as the first leg of the Lagardère Athlé Tour.
Only three days after setting a sensational 12.87 at 110m Hurdles in Ostrava, the Cuban didn't change his competition programme and ran 13.48 (wind +0.7), stopping his effort before the line.
Doucouré opens with 13.64
2005 World champion Ladji Doucouré opened his outdoor season in 13.64, an encouraging time on his way to comeback from a knee injury which he sustained when he fell down during an indoor race at Gainesville in January.
The 25-year-old was still fighting for 2nd place until the last hurdle where he stumbled and eventually took fourth place behind the French pair of Samuel Coco-Viloin (13.52) and Dimitri Bascou (13.61). Actually, the fact that Doucouré was beaten by a French hurdler is more a sign of the new found nation's health at the event.
“I'm still training hard, and Robles' World record gives me the will to comeback even stronger,” said the French record holder (12.97).
“I'm not surprised by his performance because this guy is talented,” he continued. “We knew he could break it, it was just a matter of time. I'm happy with this; it proves that records are set to be broken. However, this won't change my preparation; this shouldn't change one's training plan, but give some extra motivation.”
The women's hurdles race provided fast times in the wake of the duel between Robles' team-mate Anay Tejeda and Candice Davis (USA). Davis dipped to the line 0.01sec faster than her rival and was timed in 12.72 (wind +0.7). In the heats, Cindy Billaud of France set a symbolic personal best with 12.99, while veteran and 1996 Olympic medallist Patricia Girard, 40, ran 13.26.
Diniz back from illness
Osaka's World silver medallists Yohann Diniz and Romain Mesnil confirmed their coming-up shape.
Diniz had obviously overcome the illness which weakened him in April as he set his 2nd lifetime best at 5000m walk (18:42.68).
“It was a good competition for me, but I was alone, unlike last year (18:35.54),” regretted Diniz. “I came here to try to be reassured. 5km is no comparison with 50km but it still shows that my speed base is good. I will now start the long distance specific work, with a weekly 235km walking plan.”
Mesnil pole vaulted an outdoor season best 5.50 at his first bar attempt. He missed 5.60 two times and save one trial for 5.70, unsuccessfully. Jerome Clavier, however, jumped 5.65 on his third occasion but couldn't clear 5.75.
Sotteville was the last chance for the French athletes to prove their form before the announcement of the selection for SPAR European Cup in Annecy (21-22 June).
French sprint hope Martial Mbandjock here displayed considerable improvements from his two previous races, 10.46 in Torino and 10.32 in Moscow. A strong breeze (+3.1) gave him assistance during the 100m heats, as he overcame a modest start to clock 10.07. He backed up the performance in the final held under still conditions with 10.17, winning comfortably from Canadian Hank Palmer.
French tests for European Cup squad selection
French male 4x100 relay, 2005 World champion, presented two teams as a test in the prospect of Annecy. The « red » squad composed by Kankarafou, Pognon, Calligny and Siallo was timed in 38.74 while Mbandjock ran in the « blue » team who finished 2nd in 39.92.
Salim Sdiri was a last minute withdrawal in the men's Long Jump, as a knee inflammation left him in the crowds, two days after leaping 8.21, beyond the French Olympic standard.
“I've been feeling it for one month and at my last competition it got worse, so I preferred not to take any risks today,” he explained. Kafetien Gomis won the event with 8.06.
Elsewhere, Habiba Ghribi broke the Tunisian record at 3000m Steeplechase with 9:36.52 from Ethiopian Netsanet Achamo (9:42.41).
The next stops of the Lagardère Athlé Tour will be Lille Metropole (27 June), Strasbourg (2 July), Reims (8 July) and Monaco (29 July)
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
**NB. World record subject to the usual ratification procedures
