AFP
28 February 2001Richard Descoux, the French national team leader, announced yesterday a 13-member team for the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon. He added that four additional athletes might also complete in Lisbon if they can meet the selection criteria set by the IAAF.
"Being in a post-Olympic Games period, we decided not to be too tough. We wanted to recognise the athletes who won or finished second at the National championships thus recognising the real value of this competition. Of course, the athletes have also been requested to meet the IAAF qualifying standards," said Descoux, who will be replaced by Robert Poirier after Lisbon.
Three names have therefore been added to the list issued by the French Athletic Federation last week: Jérôme Eyana, runner-up at last week’s French Indoor championships 60m race, Youcef Allem, second in the 3000m and Sandra Citté, also a runner-up in the 60m.
Pole vaulters Vanessa Boslak and Marie Poissonnier, who both established a new national indoor record on Sunday in Liévin, long jumper Mickaël Loria (6th in this year’s world lists) and heptathlete Laurent Hernu will be notified by the IAAF if they have been selected to compete in Lisbon.
French team for Lisbon
Women
60m: Odiah Sidibé, Sandra Citté
200m: Fabé Dia, Muriel Hurtis
800m: Laetitia Valdonado
60m hurdles: Linda Ferga, Nicole Ramalalanirina
Men
60m: Stéphane Cali, Jérôme Eyana
800m: Florent Lacasse
1500m: Alexis Abraham
3000m: Bouabdellah Tahri, Youcef Allem
To be confirmed by IAAF
Women
Pole vault
Vanessa Boslak, Marie Poissonnier
Men
Heptathlon: Laurent Hernu
Long jump: Mickaël Loria
