News09 Sep 2007


Baala and Arron lead French triumph in DecaNation

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Mehdi Baala of France wins in Zürich (© Getty Images)

The third edition of SEAT DecaNation, an annual seven nation match, took place at the Stade Charléty last Saturday (8). The participating teams had to enter one male and one female athlete in ten events each. The French team scored the highest mixed total with 104 points, led Christine Arron and Mehdi Baala’s victories, both winners at the IAAF Golden League in Zürich, the previous evening (7).

The men’s 1500m started at a very slow pace, Mehdi Baala and the rest of the pack reaching 800m in 2:15.78. The double European champion (2002 and 2006), disqualified in Osaka World Championships, was leading at the bell and was never challenged in the last lap which he covered in 51.2.

“Physically, I was not in top form, because I don’t like to travel the day of a competition,” Baala explained. “I was euphoric after my win in Zürich, I didn’t sleep but still took the decision to come here to show up in front of French crowd.”

The Frenchman won in 3:50.17 ahead Diego Ruiz 3:51.28. He will probably line up next in Brussels for the IAAF Golden League (14 September) and Stuttgart for the 5th IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final (23 September). Baala’s coach, Jean-Michel Dirringer, expects these races to offer different strategies and pace schemes, which will make Baala work in order to erase his Osaka memories.

 Held under a cloudless sky on a afternoon, Paris offered better weather conditions than in Zürich but Christine Arron, 11.26 in spite of 2.8m/s tail wind, ran slower than her Swiss time (11.17). She still added another convincing victory to her name at 100m, over USA’s Marshevet Hooker, 11.31.

“I was happy to be here,” said the delighted winner. “I arrived in Paris a few hours ago but it was important for me to run at the Decanation, like all the best French athletes did today. I’m currently in good shape and I’m looking forward to race in Brussels.”

Her coach Stéphane Caristan explained that Arron had the race under control from the start and maintained her lead in order to secure victory and maintain proper running form in spite of tiredness.

Simagina jumps 6.88m despite pregnancy!!!

Russian Irina Simagina leaped 6.80m (wind +0.6) and 6.88m (+1.4) at her first and second Long Jump attempts, getting a clear victory over American Grace Upshaw (6.63, +0.6). Simagina, 25, explained that she was no longer able to approach her 7.11m season best set in May because she currently is one and a half months pregnant and expecting a daughter. The 2004 Olympic silver medallist will take part to her last competition on 16 September in Dubnica and is unlikely to compete in 2008.

Ups and downs for Germany in the infield

The most emphatic victory of the day still occurred during women’s Shot Put. The shortest of German Nadine Kleinert’s 4 attempts was one metre further than second placer, Italian Chiara Rosa (17.75). Kleinert, the World bronze medallist scored a consistent series, improving with each effort: 18.75, 18.83, 19.10 and 19.35.

A major surprise came from the loss of her German teammate Betty Heilder at Hammer Throw. The new World champion couldn’t reach the 70m line (69.84), unlike Russian Gulfiya Khanafeyeva with 70.15m on her last attempt. Manuela Montebrun for France was third in 69.66.

Still frustrated over Osaka low

Ladji Doucouré, who failed to defend his World 110m Hurdles title in Osaka after elimination in the semi finals, beat bronze medallist David Payne by 0.03 with 13.29. The Frenchman in lane 2 was the fastest starter and managed to resist to Payne’s late surge in lane 7. Doucouré, relieved by his time, still expressed frustration: “With my time I would have entered in the World Champs final. But today, I didn’t made faults during the race. It was not easy to come over the upset (of Osaka), that’s why I took the decision to run here only yesterday morning."

New motivation for Djhone

Leslie Djhone took risks during the men’s 400m as he opened the race with a fast first bend and reached half way in 21.6. The opposition was left far behind and Djhone’s 45.15 took the win by almost one second over Jamaal Torrance, 46.13.

“I’m really tired, I haven’t still not recovered from the jet lag,” noted Djhone. “In Osaka, I’ve understood something about the way of running the 400m. I can’t describe it, it’s a kind of feeling. In my races there (44.46 in semi finals, national record, and 44.59 in final for 5th place), I used different tactics and I’m now able to adapt to any of them,” analysed the 26-year-old quarter-miler who is yet to decide about his coming meetings programme. “I still don’t know what is my next race, one thing is sure I have to be cautious in order not to over compete during this end of season, as I want to prepare the coming Olympic year as fresh as possible”.

P-J Vazel for the IAAF


Final Standings

France 104points
Germany 102p
United States 100p
Russia 88p
Ukraine 63p
Spain 62p
Italy 59p

Click here for FULL RESULTS

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