Renaud Lavillenie returns to action in Donetsk with a victory at 5.82m (© Donetsk Organisers)
Aubière, FranceRenaud Lavillenie (5.72m at Pole Vault) and Christophe Lemaitre (6.59 at 60m) captured their third consecutive during the French National Indoor Championships in Aubière, while the best performance of the weekend was produced by Benjamin Compaoré, the winner of Triple Jump with 17.13.
European champion Lavillenie won the Pole Vault with his first jump at 5.55m, a bar that none of his opponents managed to clear. His long-time rival Romain Mesnil also chose to start at 5.55m but failed three times and did not mark.
“It was weird to win with one jump and since I was competing for the victory, I felt like the competition was already over,” explained Lavillenie, who jumped 5.72m on his second try and failed at 5.86m. “If it had been necessary to jump 5.90m to win, I would have done it,” he assured.
One week after established the world Leading mark with 5.93, the Frenchman was visibly frustrated to not have been pushed to higher bars. But three months after his accident at training which caused a hand fracture, his participation to several high level meetings has proved that Lavillenie has fully recovered and thus will be the man to beat at the World Indoor Championships to be held in Istanbul (9-11 March). “I’ll try to do good things there with the aim to get a medal. But there will be a fierce competition out there and once the competition starts, the war is on.”
Lemaitre, however, has not pinned Istanbul in his agenda. The World bronze medallist at 200m lined up in 60m races this winter in order to work on his start, a part of the race which is not fixed yet, according to his own words. “I can’t explain why, but I can’t transfer in races what I did at training.” It only was in the last meters at Lemaitre took the advantage over the former long jumper Emmanuel Biron to won his third title in a row in 6.59, by a mere 0.01 margin. “I’m not as fast than last year at the same period (when he ran 6.55), but I know all the training done will be useful later.”
Myriam Soumaré completed a double at 60m (7.29) and 200m (23.11), but the European outdoor 200m champion also isn't planning to go to Istanbul.
However, Benjamin Compaoré can legitimately set high goals in Turkey. The former World junior champion triple jumped 17.13m, only one centimetre short of his best mark of the year. With only two indoor outings, he has improved his indoor personal best and reached the fifth place on the world lists. “I’m close to what I’m supposed to perform technically, but maybe I was tired from a high load training week,” he said. “Anyway I’m happy to win and I dedicate this title to my mom’s birthday.”
The surprise of the French championships was produced by 20-year-old Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, winner of the 60m hurdles in 7.54. A 7.71 performer last year, he improved his personal best six times this winter, reaching the second position on the European lists.
“I’m very happy about the time, but it’s even more surprising because I’ve been sick during the last couple of days. It’s very promising for the rest of the season,” said the 1.90m tall and 80kg hurdler. His training partner Reina-Flor Okori won the women's 60m Hurdles in 8.07, signing her return to the high level after Achilles and knee surgeries.
Also recovering from knee surgeries, pole vaulter Vanessa Boslak made a successful comeback for her first participation to the National championships since 2008 in leaping will over 4.42m at her first attempt, before missing three times at 4.57m. “I feel some pressure today, but now I know that 4.57m is well within my reach. I just need to get used to big poles and compete at new.”
Nicolas Gomont long jumped over the 8m barrier (8.05m) for the first time of his career and became the 10th world’s best performer of the season. “It was a great jump, especially at my first attempt. But the emotion cut my legs for the remaining five tries. I’m full of happiness and I can prepare the outdoor season with the ambition to participate to the Olympic Games.”
Elsewhere, Mélanie Melfort high jumped 1.93m and Yannick Fonsat won the 200m in 20.82.
France will send a team of 11 to Istanbul for the World Indoor Championships.
Women:
1500m: Hind Dehiba
Pole Vault: Vanessa Boslak
Shot Put: Jessica Cerival
Men:
60m: Emmanuel Biron
1500m: Grégory Beugnet
3000m: Yoann Kowal
Yohan Durand
60m hurdles: Pascal Martinot-Lagarde
Triple Jump: Benjamin Compaoré
Pole Vault: Renaud Lavillenie
Romain Mesnil
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF
