Ladji Doucoure of France winning the 110m Hurdles at the European Cup (© Getty Images)
The third and last day of the French Indoor Championships on Sunday (20 Feb) saw many well know names qualify for European Indoor Championships in Madrid (4-6 March), as such Christine Arron, Leslie Djhone and Ladji Doucouré joined Saturday’ stars Salim Sdiri and Ronald Pognon as European medals contenders.
Doucouré wins in 7.56 and fixes his technique
Coming to Liévin, Ladji Doucouré had a triple goal: winning the title, running under 7.60 and using the three rounds to practice his corrected start technique. The first objective was, as expected, easily achieved, just as was the second one, in 7.56 (from Cédric Lavanne 7.69). Concerning the third aim, Doucouré is currently trying to change his ‘head up’ start into a more conventional and, hopefully, more efficient technique.
”I would have preferred to run the three rounds during the same day in order to fix it. At training, it goes well, during championships it goes well, but the problem belongs in meetings with a single race, “confirmed the Olympic finalist.
Doucouré will try to correct some more details on the same track at Liévin at next weekend’s IAAF permit meeting. “I’m currently a little tired, that’s probably from my recent US training camp.” Yesterday he was timed in 6.47 at 50m point during the final, 0.01 faster than the previous 50m Hurdles French Indoor Record.
Arron gradually finds form - 7.13
Christine Arron also made good use of the three rounds to fix her start. Like Doucouré, the women’s European 100m record-holder won easily but she had some concern about the time. “I was worried about my 7.20 times in qualification rounds, my final was better due to a smoothest start. All in all, I was expecting a better performance (7.13), but form is still yet to come!”
Second was Sylvie Mballa-Eloundou with 7.26, but the Cameroon-born athlete has decided to not run for France anymore in order to represent her native country. Linda Khodadin just missed the required time for Madrid in 7.28, but it gives a good basis for her future outdoor season.
Anxiety for Djhone despite a convincing 46.33
The men’s 400m victory wasn’t as easy as expected for Leslie Djhone, but challenge came less from his opponents than from himself. “I came to Liévin with many doubts concerning my physical state, and at the end of the first lap of the race, I hurt my hamstrings. I still wanted so badly to win because I had never won a 400m national title,” confirmed the Athens Olympic finalist after his good 46.33 winning performance. Qualified for European Championships, Djhone added that he won’t make the trip if his hamstrings still hurt. His presence would make a strong French relay team in Madrid with Panel 47.08, Wallard 47.14, and Marc Raquil who also struggles with injuries.
Former Olympic Pole vault champion Jean Galfione has, on the other hand, left his injury problems behind him, but even if he has shown same form lately (5.70), he wasn’t able to pass the 5.40 first bar in Liévin. Vincent Favretto snatched the victory over 5.50. Galfione lamented that “the run-up track is quite soft and I usually have problems to find the right rhythm on it. I failed to reach the right speed, it was my mistake. I will enter in two competitions before the European Champs.”
Other notable results include Vanessa Boslak’s 4.30 at Pole Vault and a tough battle at 800m between long-time rivals Nicolas Aïssat and Florent Lacasse (1:49.39 versus 1:49.50).
After these Nationals, which were compulsory for European Championships, a team including, about 40 athletes will be announced.
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
2005 French National Indoor Champions
Men
60 m Ronald Pognon 6.55
200 m Joseph Batangdon (CMR) 20.73 , (Idrissa M'Barke 21.14 National Champion)
400 m Leslie Djhone 46.33
800 m: Nicolas Aïssat 1:49.39
1500 m Moktar Benhari 3:44.21
3000 m Vincent Le Dauphin 8:02.28
60 m hurdles Ladji Doucouré 7.56
High Jump Mustapha Raïfak 2,18 m
Pole Vault Vincent Favretto 5,50 m
Long Jump Salim Sdiri 8,24 m (NR, WL)
Triple Jump Julien Kapek 16,44
Shot Put Gaetan Bucki 19,69 m
Heptathlon: Laurent Hernu 5866 pts
5000m Walk Denis Langlois 19:55.09
Women
60 m Christine Arron 7.13
200 m Fabe Dia 23.42
400 m Phara Anacharsis 53.07
800 m Laetitia Valdonado 2:04.68
1500 m Hind Dehiba 4:14.70
3000 m Maria Martins 9:17.36
60 m hurdles Reina-Flor Okori 8.07
Long Jump Elise Vesanes 6,24 m
Triple Jump Teresa Nzola Meso 13,86 m
High Jump Mélanie Skotnik 1,88 m
Pole Vault Vanessa Boslak 4,30 m
Shot Put Laurence Manfrédi 17,40 m
Pentathlon Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida 4196 pts
3000m Walk Fatiha Ouali 12:46.69
