Christine Arron opened her Olympic season with a 7.28 60m win at the Meeting National du Val D Oise on Friday (8-Feb). One week before the National Championships which will take place in Bordeaux, this competition served as a last review of the current shape of some of the best French athletes.
For her first indoor competition since her fourth place at 2006 World Indoor Championships, Christine Arron was the fastest in heats with 7.30 and improved her time by 0.02 later in final during the evening.
Arron content with first outing
"I haven’t run indoors for two years so I used these races to work on my top speed," said the 100m European Record holder (10.73).
"I am coming from a huge preparation done this winter and I know that speed is the area I need to work on now. Technically it was a sound race but there is still work to do."
Her coach, Stephane Caristan, explained that the Arron had a difficult week heading to Eaubonne.
"She had a sore throat for several days and couldn’t train properly,” Caristan said. “Thus, she ran without tonus and aggressiveness. However I am satisfied with her race which was a clean one."
Her 7.28 is not in line with her other season debuts which were surprisingly even: 7.20 in 2006, 7.19 in 2004 and 2005, and 7.22 in 2003, while her national record stands at 7.06 since 2006. Her next competition, The national indoor championships in Bordeaux next weekend should provide results closer to her current abilities, her coach said. With the aim to place higher than two years ago in Moscow, Arron will prepare for the World Indoor Championships with two more competitions: the 60m in Bercy (22 February) and the 60m and 200m in Aubiere (26 February).
Mbandjock improves to 6.65
The men’s 60m final was won by Martial Mbandjock, who broke again his personal best with 6.65. Coming from 6.72 last season, the 22-year-old Frenchman matched this time during his opening race in Mondeville on 26 January, then lowered his mark on 1 February in Reims to 6.69. Second in Eaubonne was American Joshua Norman with 6.69. In the heats, 400m and 4x400m reigning European champion Marc Raquil showed he had fully healed his calf injury in taking part surprisingly in the shortest and most explosive sprint event for the first time in his career.
"I messed up my start, but I managed to pick up my speed later and I came from the back in a fine way," summed up the 1.93m tall quarter miler, who clocked 7.09. "My (new) coach (Caristan) expected me to run 7.00 to 7.09, so I am happy to have recorded a time according to his plan." Raquil will repeat the experience in Karlsruhe on Sunday.
Tight battles on the infield
The womens’ high jump provided a close contest with three jumpers at 1.95. Romana Dubnova (CZE), Vita Palamar (UKR) and Marina Aitova (KAZ) all succeeded on their second attempt but Dubnova and Palamar shared the victory while Aitova placed 3rd because of a first miss at 1.86 earlier in the competition. All three failed at 1.98.
The men’s Pole Vault victory also went after a long suspense. Maksym Mazuryk (UKR, former World Junior Champion in 2002) and Jerome Clavier (who set personal best at 5.80 five days ago) had exactly the same clearance and trials up to 5.70 and three misses at 5.80, except an early mistake by the Frenchman at his first attempt for 5.40.
Other notable wins include Richard Kiplagat (KEN) 1 47.61 at 800m, Damjan Zlatnar (SLO) in 7.72 (7.68 in heats) and Miriam Bobkova (SVK) in 8.08 for the mens’ and women’s 60m Hurdles, respectively.
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
