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News15 Feb 1999


Junior stars in French Indoor Championships

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Junior stars in French Indoor Championships
Emilie Poucan for the IAAF in Liévin

Liévin, 12-14 February 1999 - With superstar sprinter Christine Arron injured, France was on the look out for a new phenomenon at the French championship this weekend in Liévin. World Junior Champion Muriel Hurtis may be just that. She won the 200m in a good 23"14 (0.19 off Arron’s French record) at her third race of the weekend. This young lady, who so resembles Marie-José Pérec, won’t be going to the World Indoors in Japan as she has exams to take at that time, but will most certainly be someone to watch out for in Seville.

Two other sprinters surprised the world of French track. Odiah Sibibé and the young Sandra Citté beating ‘97 bronze medallist Frédérique Bangué with a 7"18 double victory in the 60m. As for the hurdles, one would have imagined European Indoor champion Patricia Girard winning easily, but Linda Ferga emerged to take gold in an impressive 7"98. Another of Jacques Piasenta’s athletes took first in the men’s 60m race: Dan Philibert ran 7"62 but it is the second placer, Sébastien Denis, who will go to Maebashi, as Philibert would prefer to continue his training for the Summer season. Olympic Champion Jean Galfione, will be going to Japan as he made the team, winning the pole vault with 5, 75m. Even though new pole-vault sensation Romain Mesnil (5,80m two weeks ago) wasn’t able to jump during the qualifications, he will be Galfione’s partner at the World Indoors. The last member of the French team who will make it to Japan is Marc Foucan who won the 200m in 20"91 after running 20"88 and 20"84 in the heats and semi-finals. Cheik Touré (originally from Senegal but now a French citizen) also won his event with a good performance (8,11m at the long jump) but didn’t meet the qualifying standards for Maebashi. Last performance to note, Robert Korseniowski, of Poland walked to victory with an excellent 18’49"38 in the 5000m.

This edition of the French Championships were perhaps not the best ever but FFA President Philippe Lamblin was delighted to note the emergence of several young athletes such as 16 year old Vanessa Boslak, women’s pole vault winner, and sprinter Muriel Hurtis.

The French team for Maebashi
Men
200m : Marc Foucan,
60m hurdles : Sébastien Denis
Pole vault : Jean Galfione, Romain Mesnil
4X400m : Fred Mango, Emmanuel Front, Bruno Wavelet, Marc Raquil, Marc Foucan

Women
60m : Odiah Sidibé, Sandra Citté
200m : Fabienne Fisher
800m : Patricia Djaté
3000m: Yanna Belkacem, Rodica Nagel
60m hurdles : Linda Ferga, Nicole Ramalalanirina
Pole vault : Amandine Homo and Marie Poissonnier
Heptathlon : Nathalie Teppe

Richard Descoux (FFA Technical Director) will announce the complete team list on 24 February after the international indoor meetings in Liévin and Eaubonne.

Several of the athletes competing in the World Indoor Championships will spend a couple of weeks in Sydney after Maebashi, to visit the Olympic site and to participate in the Australian Championships.

 

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