Teddy Tamgho of France on his way to the World Indoor Triple Jump record in Doha (© Getty Images)
The second and last leg of the French Club National Championships was held this week-end, with the final taking place in Franconville, where prominent performances were achieved.
Christophe Lemaitre and Teddy Tamgho, both World Junior champions in 2008, are establishing themselves into the elite’s level as confirmed by their early performances in Franconville.
Best ever series for Tamgho
Tamhgo set a new World leading mark at Triple Jump with 17.63m. The detail of his competition shows his regularity: 17.19 (+1.3), 17.24 (+1.4), 17.53 (+2.5), 17.63 (+1.7), 17.42 (+3.9), x.
“That was the first time of my life that I had so many jumps over 17m,” said the 20 years old, who broke the World Indoor record (17.90) to become World Indoor champion in March in Doha.
“I came here with the plan to do a couple of jumps for the Club (CA Montreuil), but when I realised that I was some 30cm off the plasticine at my first attempt, I decided to go on and on. I guess there will be difficult moments in the future but I know that I have definitely reached another level today, and I want to keep going as long as possible. However, all my focus is geared toward the European Championships, work hard and remain healthy.”
Lemaitre closing on 10-sec barrier
The other young French prodigy, Lemaitre, 19, ran the 100m in a personal best of 10.03 (wind +0.6), after an average start before injecting a powerful acceleration midway and leaving the opposition far behind (Yannick Lesourd was 2nd in 10.43).
His former best time was set last year when he won the European Junior Championships, breaking the European Junior record in the process (10.04).
“I’m a little bit disappointed because I wanted to run under 10sec (the National record is held by Ronald Pognon in 9.99 since 2005), admitted Lemaitre. “Anyhow, I will have other occasions to try it again.”
Franconville was his third race outdoors, after Aix-les-Bains on 1 May (10.09, wind +1.0, winning from Pessonneaux 10.62) and Venissieux on 9 May (10.24, wind -2.2, way ahead of Jonathan Gelie 11.23).
This makes an enormous 0.64 winning margin so far this year at 100m, and since his disqualification for false start in the quarter-finals at the Berlin World Champs in August, Lemaitre has won 25 races ranging from 50m to 200m, all of them being run on French soil.
His first appearance abroad is therefore keenly anticipated and should take place in the Rome IAAF Diamond League meeting on 10 June against sprint stars such as Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell in order to judge the new sprint find into an international context.
Lavillenie hurdles - Hurtis wins 400
Still a junior Jimmy Vicaud won the “B” race in 10.36, assisted by a +2.7 wind, while Véronique Mang was the fastest woman with 11.30 (w+1.4). Other notable performances during this warm and windy Sunday afternoon include 13.49 (w+2.0) by Dimitri Bascou at 110m Hurdles and 56.56 by Phara Anacharsis at 400m Hurdles.
French Pole Vault record holder (6.01) Renaud Lavillenie gave points to his club in taking part in the long jump (7.31) and 110m Hurdles (14.51).
In Reims, Eunice Barber, former Long Jump and Heptathlon World champion took second place at 100m Hurdles (13.60, wind +2.5) and won the Long Jump in 6.28 (+0.2), a few days after she announced that she will retire after 2010 season.
On Saturday in Antony, Muriel Hurtis-Houairi, former 200m World Indoor champion, won the 400m in 52.94 from Myriam Soumaré (60m finalist at World Indoor Championships this winter) in 54.50, two weeks after a 53.65 which caught her by surprise, as she had not tried the distance since 1998 and her first ever attempt in 54.44.
Those two races were part of Hurtis’ 200m preparation for the European Championships, but the 31-year-old is not rejecting the idea to specialise in the one-lap event in the future.
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
