Tual, Robert and Lamote in half
Eighteen French people were in contention for the fourth morning of these European Championships on Thursday. Sixth in the last Worlds and candidate for the title, Gabriel Tual pulled out of the 800m series. In a race led by the Swede Kramer, the Frenchman got back on the opposite straight to finally win 3rd qualifying place (1’46”08) in the fastest series of the day (4 fished out on time ), won by newly crowned 1500m world champion Jake Wightman. ” It was hardhe blurted. I need to continue because it’s been a long time since I ran, the sensations have to come back. »
Unbridled in the 1000m in Monaco last week, Benjamin Robert also reached the semi-finals (Friday from 8:27 p.m.), taking second place in heat 2 in 1’47”66. “ It doesn’t take much but in the morning it’s not easy, reminded the one who has the best time for the season (1’43”75, personal best). The job is done, I go to the semi-finals where it will be necessary to be much better than that. I’m not used to leading. I didn’t really have any tactics. There, I found myself in front. The goal is to be well placed in the 500m. »
On the other hand, the young Yanis Meziane (20 years old), for his first selection among the big boys, did not manage to get out of the playoffs. Tossed about in the peloton, he finished fifth in his race in 1’47”82.
Double vice-champion of Europe (2016 and 2018), Rénelle Lamote also passed without incident. Reduced by a Covid infection during the Worlds, the Frenchwoman seemed in her legs (1st in her series in 2’02”22). ” It remains the series, I do not ignite, she threw. I’m the series pro but the goal is to be good in the semis (Friday from 10:50 a.m.). I’m already focused on what’s next. The sensations were average. I was not on my pace too much. These races are never pleasant. The answers I will have them tomorrow (Friday)on a race, you can’t know. »
For her first in a major Championship over 800m (after a first career over 400m), Agnès Raharolahy failed to join the fight to pass this round (7th in her series in 2’7”02).
Three French in the 400m hurdles final
With Wilfried Happio, Ludvy Vaillant and Victor Coroller, there will be three Frenchmen in the 400m hurdles final, a first for 56 years. Happio, 4th in the Eugene Worlds, confirmed with a time of 48.89 that he will be the main opponent of the Norwegian world record holder Karsten Warholm. The final is scheduled for Friday at 10:00 p.m.
The pole vault did almost as well, with two qualified for the final: Renaud Lavillenie and Thibaut Collet, who both cleared 5.65 m. Valentin Lavillenie, badly adjusted, could not pass his first bar at 5.50 m.
Joseph and Grebo in the 200m half, Cambours in the hard
In the first round of the 200m, the two French women entered fulfilled their contract by qualifying for the semi-finals. Gémima Joseph thus took third place in her series in 23”21 (+ 0.3 m/s) and will still be at work this Thursday evening. Same observation for Shana Grebo, who won her series in 23”00 (+ 0.5 m / s), two hundredths of her personal best.
The second day of the heptathlon started very badly for Léonie Cambours, who indeed bit her three tries at the length. Small performance for Nafissatou Thiam (6.08 m), the Belgian nevertheless retaining the lead in the general classification before the next event, the javelin. One of the weak points of Cambours, as the Norman recognized on Wednesday by taking stock halfway. His best throw was measured at 36.35m, which made him dive to 16th and last place overall with 4,155 points.
Belgian Noor Vidts managed 41.82 m, a new personal best. The Dutch vice-world champion Anouk Vetter gave up (pain in an Achilles tendon) before throwing the javelin in the second group at the start of the afternoon. Thiam saw her best throw measured at 48.89m, and the world champion approaches the last event, the 800m this Thursday at 9:55 p.m., at the top of the general classification with 5,776 points. She is well ahead of Switzerland’s Annik Kälin (5,604) and Poland’s Adrianna Sulek (5,560).
Minard and the steeplers far from the account
On the other hand, the morning was disappointing for athletes like javelin thrower Alizée Minard, who evolved far from her level with a best throw of 52.50 m (22nd), as did 3,000 m steeplechase specialists Flavie Renouard, 17th time in the series in 9’51″49, and Alexa Lemitre, 21st in 9’58″49.
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