The women's 60m provided highlight of the “Meeting du Val d’Oise” in Eaubonne on Friday (10 February).
French sprinter Christine Arron, who opened her season on 28 January with a 7.20 clocking, improved her 2006 best to 7.19 in the 3rd heat. Later in the evening, following a false start, Arron improved to 7.17, beating a strong field thta included Delphine Atangana of Cameroun (7.25), Frenchwoman Véronique Mang (7.25), Sylvie Mballa-Eloundou of Cameroun (7.28) and Muriel Hurtis (7.30). Hurtis, the 200m World Indoor Champion in 2003, is showing notable results after her return from pregnancy, but a knee injury lead to a three weeks rest, cutting short to her indoor campaign. Eunice Barber canceled her appearance here due to a slight ankle injury.
A few days after her 51.43 in the 400m in Stuttgart, Bahamian Christine Amertil won the 200m in 23.25, while Russian Ekaterina Kondratyeva won the “A” race in 23.47. Dominic Demeritte (BAH), the 2004 World indoor champion, claimed a narrow victory in the men's race, topping 400m specialist Leslie Dhjone, 21.20 to 21.23. American indoor champion Joel Brown won the 60m Hurdles in 7.61.
Helsinki 1500m bronze medallist Bouchra Ghezielle failed in the French 1500m record attempt. Her 4:08.12 was nonetheless the third fastest performance of the winter, and plans to continue the indoor season at 3000m.
For complete results click here:
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF