Christine Arron (FRA) on her way to victory - Rome (© Getty Images)
The third and last day of French Championships yesterday (Sat 16) provided more top international performances on a fast track and under hot temperatures of 35°. Christine Arron, Ronald Pognon, Mehdi Baala, Naman Keita and Manuela Montebrun confirmed their national leadership, however the performance of the day came surprisingly from Karl Taillepierre with 17.45.
Taillepierre inspired by Doucouré
A progressive accelerating run-up, a well balanced Triple Jump, a perfect board and a great landing, Karl Taillepierre, 28-years-old, immediately knew he had produced his best performance ever, long before 17.45m appeared on the scoreboard. A huge step-up on his former personal best, 17.16 in 2004, and a performance only bettered in 2005 by Marian Oprea 17.81, Jadel Gregorio 17.73 and Nathan Douglas 17.64. His series was 16.66 (wind -0.3), x, 16.80 (w+0.3), 17.00 (w+2.5), x, 17.45 (w+1.0). Taillepierre, coached by Jean-Hervé Stiévernart, was kept under pressure by Julien Kapek, second in 17.06.
“Yesterday, I saw Ladji Doucouré’s 12.97 (at 110m Hurdles), and it inspired me to give everything on my competition. It showed everything is possible. I knew the French record (17.55) wasn’t out of reach. I did many mistakes at each jump, so in my last attempt, after Kapek jumped 17.06, I told to myself, no matter if I break my leg, now I give my all”. After some days rest, Kapek will have one or two more competitions before the Helsinki World Championships.
Typical championship race for Baala
Mehdi Baala, the reigning World Silver medallist at 1500m, 4th fastest in the World this year with 3:30.80, had no opposition in Angers. Still, winning a national title means a lot for him: “One must respect every opponent, I didn’t come here with over self-confidence. Above all, I wanted to win because I knew it wasn’t possible to produce fast performances”.
Indeed, behind Vincent Le Dauphin, the Steeplechase specialist who has already qualified for Helsinki, Baala went through 400m in 1:02.8, 800m in 2:05.4. With 300m to go, Baala took control of the race and left the pack and crossed the finish line in a slow time, 3:43.36, typical of Championship races.
Baala’s coach Jean-Michel Dirringer analysed the run: “I timed Mehdi’s last 300m in 38.9, that’s fast taking in account that he didn’t pushed too hard in the last straight. We were not looking for extraordinary times here. He just came out of a training camp in Gap, and we are returning to Gap for an other week. This was the last 1500m race prior Helsinki, Mehdi will do another race, probably a 800m, or if possible a 1000m”.
Concerning his plans in Helsinki, Baala keeps a cautious profile: “I don’t know if Hicham (El Guerrouj) will be there, in any case, everyone has the same chances on the starting line. I have good chances to win a medal, just like all of my opponents”.
Arron and Pognon - 200m wins in 22.38 and 20.34
Christine Arron and Ronald Pognon reached their goal, making the qualification marks for Helsinki at 200m. Respectively, the 3rd and 4th fastest performers in the world this season, the public was keen to see the translation of their pure speed into 200m.
Arron, 31-years-old, won her heat in 22.39 (w+0.7) and Final in 22.38 (w+0.6), her best times since her old personal best, 22.26 in 1999. “My 200m performances are nearly matching my 100m, most of the work at training has been done. I’ve focused more on 200m training early this year, and I just need some speed sessions in order to be ready for Helsinki, and win the TDK Golden League Jackpot”. Fabienne Feraez 22.81 and Sylviane Félix 23.03 followed Arron’s pace.
Her training partner Ronald Pognon ran his three races under his former personal best of 20.49. A fine series of 20.38 heat, 20.40 semi, and in Final 20.34 (w+0.4). The new sprint sensation said: “there was not enough recovery time between semis and final for me to hope about breaking the national record (20.16). I ran three easy races, with fast first 120m and trying to maintain speed, relax, as my coach asked me to do”.
Montebrun confirms great form – 72.01 Hammer Throw
Five days after her 74.66m national record in Zagreb, Manuèla Montebrun dominated the women’s Hammer Throw competition, with all attempts over 70m : 70.78, 71.11, 72.01, 70.69, 71.61, 70.30. Montebrun was satisfied by her performance, since conditions were not the best : “I don’t like to throw in hot weather, the competition was endless under the sun. Also, the next competition after a record throw is usually not exceptional. I had difficulties to feel what I was doing technically.”
Keita - coping with 13 between the barriers
Naman Keita won the 400m Hurdles in 49.19, passing half way in a fast 23.3. “I’m very happy of my race, since it is the first time I have managed to do 13 steps until the 10th hurdle fluently, without decelerating, with efficient touch down. All season, I had problems with this technical point, now I’m glad this is over”. Third in Athens Olympics as well as in the current IAAF World Rankings for the event, Keita and his coach Hervé Stéphan are looking forward to duplicating this race against the world’s best performers in Stockholm.
Barber concentrating on weaker events
Eunice Barber, world best performer at Heptathlon, entered in two individual events in Angers: the Javelin Throw with 53.10m on Friday, and High Jump yesterday. She passed at her first attempts 1.75, 1.79 and 1.83 before three misses at 1.86.
The reigning Long Jump World Champion explained her deceiving performance: “I went here to work my weakest events, except the Shot Put because I didn’t know I had the possibility to qualify for it. On Thursday, I did 250m runs at training, so I hadn’t recovered and wasn’t fresh enough today to jump higher”. A couple of hours later, at the end of the Championships, she would complete her “training session day” by some 200m and 300m races.
Mélanie Skotnik won with the High Jump with 1.94, just missing three times 1.97.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF
