Teddy Tamgho of France on his way to the World Indoor Triple Jump record in Doha (© Getty Images)
Teddy Tamgho broke his own World indoor record* in the Triple Jump on Sunday (20) to highlight the French national indoor championships in Aubiere.
The 21-year-old Frenchman leaped 17.91m on his fourth attempt, to add one centimetre to the record he set when winning the World indoor title in Doha, Qatar, in March 2010.
Tamgho: 'I can do lots more'
Tamgho couldn’t find his marks for his first two attempts - both were fouls - but on the third, he had a very cautious run-up and took off well before the board. The 17.36 leap was a clear sign that he was ready to produce a fantastic jump. That’s just what he did on his fourth attempt where he broke the sand at 17.91m, again with room to spare at the end of the board.
“I managed to carry lots of speed until the end of the triple jump, but I had fewer sensations than during the 5th attempt,” Tamgho said. His fifth jump was measured at 17.58m but by then seemed mentally exhausted. The last attempt, albeit aborted, was still measured at 17.08.
“I can do lots more,” Tamgho said. “This was not a perfect jump, and I know that’s what Ivan will tell me.” Ivan Pedroso, the four-time World Long Jump champion, has been coaching Tamgho since the fall, and he was very satisfied.
“It’s a fantastic day," Pedroso said. "I’m happy that all the work carried out is beginning to bear fruit with this result, but even more so that Teddy is now more dominating with what he is doing during the triple jump. But it’s never finished. When you reach those marks, I think one should now focus on small details, which are actually very important.”
The Triple Jump competition erased the deception of the previous day, when Tamgho only reached 7.79m for a third place finish in the Long Jump, won by Salim Sdiri with 8.06m.
“The Long Jump is good training for the Triple Jump,” Pedroso said. “But we have not decided yet about entering both events at European indoor championships”. Tamgho, who hadn’t competed in the Long Jump in three years, said that he can jump farther that his 8.01m personal best set a week before, but added that in any case, only his finish in the Triple Jump will matter in Bercy.
Preparing for home stage spotlight Euro indoor champs
The weekend provided the let chance for French athletes to qualify for the European indoor championships which will be hosted by the French capital from 4-6 March. Renaud Lavillenie (5.85m in the Pole Vault), Christophe Lemaitre (6.58 at 60m), Dimitri Bascou (7.52 at 60m Hurdles), Leslie Djhone (46.13 at 400m) and Myriam Soumaré (7.19 at 60m) all positioned themselves as medal contenders.
Lavillenie is in the best position to defend his European Indoor title from Torino two years ago. With a 5.85m leap on the second attempt, he beat Romain Mesnil, faultless at 5.65m and 5.80m, but who failed three times at 5.90. Lavillenie, assured of the win, eventually tried 6.02m but in vain.
“Jumping here is always special for me because it’s my training place,” said the world Leader at 5.93m. "I feel in great shape with lots of speed. In Bercy, my aim is to reach the podium. There will be a fierce opposition, since the all the world’s best this winter are European.”
In the women’s short sprint, Soumaré matched her personal best with 7.19, in spite of hamstring pains.
“I decided to run in the call-room," Soumaré said. "I’ve had this pain for about a week now, but I wanted to defend my national title. I’m happy to have taken the risk and to have been able to focus on my technique. This gives me plenty of confidence now!”
Lemaitre erased the worries surrounding him about his recent lack of form, after his two previous competitions where he clocked 6.67 in Stuttgart and 6.68 in Liévin. The 6.61 during the qualification round was the sign that the recovery week imposed by coach Pierre Carraz was beneficial to recover from a strenuous training camp in Miami last month.
"I knew I needed some rest,” said the 20-year-old, who became the first-ever triple European champion (100m-200m-4x100m) last year. In the final, he did even better with 6.58, only 0.03 off his personal best, and 0.01 off the European Leading mark set by defending European indoor champion Dwain Chambers. “I thought I would run 6.62 today,” Lemaitre admitted. “I’m now relieved and I can reasonably target the gold in Bercy.” Martial Mbandjock placed second with 6.66.
The 60m Hurdles offered two French revelations this winter: Dimitry Bascou and Alice Decaux. Bascou, a 7.72 in 2010, set no less than six personal bests this winter, all the way down to 7.52 to take his first national indoor title. The switch from eight steps to seven before the first hurdle (like David Oliver or Dayron Robles) was a big boost for the 23-year-old who integrated this new technique with the help of his coach Olivier Vallaeys.
“My race in the heats (7.53) was a clean one, but in the final I hit the first hurdle badly and was thinking about this mistake during the race. This cost the few hundredths that I needed to run under 7.50,”, lamented the Martiniquais, who is second in the Area indoor list behind Czech Petr Svoboda (7.48).
In the women’s race, Decaux cracked the eight-second barrier with 7.97 (beating Sandra Gomis who clocked 8.00), which she describes as a psychological barrier.
“I felt I could do it for a long time now, like many other girls of my generation in France, but I’m the first to do it. I have no words to describe my joy. I would like to dedicate this to my coach Patricia Girard and all those who encouraged me.” Decaux is actually considering a switch to the seven step start as well, in order to not get too close to the first hurdle and let her power go out of the blocks. “Today I managed to let it go from the start; this is what I’m working on right now.”
Leslie Djhone set a European Leading mark at 400m with 46.13. Placed in lane six, he has a good start but was caught by Yoann Decimus in lane five during the first bend. Djhone made a point to lead at the bell, reached in 21.60. The national record holder indoors (45.85) and outdoors (44.46) maintained his lead over Decimus who reached the line in 46.31, while Mamadou-Eliman Hann won the B final with 46.49.
“I can’t be satisfied with my race,” Djhone said. “I ran rubbish today and managed to win thanks to my experience. The good point is that I have a good progression margin and lots of work to do in the last weeks before Bercy.” The French 4x400m Relay team can count on no less than six men under 47 seconds, a good contingent for a gold medal prospect in Bercy.
A 16-year-old won the 200m in 21.13, a national youth record lad also an age World best. Judging by his reaction, Guy-Elphege Anouman was the most surprised by his performance. “I wasn’t expecting this, I just wanted to improve my times. In each race, every one starts on the same line no matter the personal best. The fact that Christophe Lemaitre wasn’t taking part to the 200m wasn’t a problem for me, actually I would have had a hard time to stay focused on my race. I’m training three to four times a week in a group of ten coach by Antony Yaïch in Cercy. I wish to continue the good work to be ready for this summer.”
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
* pending the usual ratification procedures
