Cross country regionals. The Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé delivered

Sunday, the Créteil Interdepartmental Sports Park (94), as in 2023, welcomed the cross country championships of the eastern zone of the Ile de France, which brings together the departments of Paris, Val-de-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis and the Seine-et-Marne.

In this dense maelstrom of athletes, each more formidable than the other, standing out is often a challenge. But some clubs in 77 have some big names in their bag, notably that of Bellifontains.

Double the PFA on the long cross

And the course, which could not be more demanding, as it is full of severe bumps, has undeniably amplified the differences in level between the main protagonists. When it comes time to take stock, we can rejoice in the podiums won by Elias Duloquin (juniors), Céleste Lardon (minimes), Maxime Noel (cadets) as well as Gabriel Briand and Florian Carvalho (long cross).

Barely having time to clean the points, it will be necessary to quickly reapply the heating blue, on February 9 at the Essonne site of Lisses, during the Ile-de-France cross country (the eight departments combined). Places for the France meeting in March will be hotly contested, let's be sure.

Reactions

Bertrand Raynaud: I'm a little disappointed with my race, I didn't have very good legs and that disturbed me. As a result, I didn't make the right strategic choices. The first three quickly went ahead and I didn't want to go there and I was wrong. The course is greasy but not too muddy. There are lots of climbs and technical descents. For Lisses, in two weeks, I will have revenge to take!

Maxime Noel: Like in the departmentals, I tried to start at the front and lead at my own pace. The course was much more demanding than two weeks ago. My opponents from Montreuil and Val d'Europe were better today (Sunday, Editor's note), you have to admit, it happens. In Lisses, I will aim for a podium. And in France we know that the cards will be reshuffled.

Marine Flurian: The girls are strong and the course was tough but I'm happy because I did the best I could. It was harder than two weeks ago. I'm going to try to arrive in good shape in two weeks, that's the big goal! The ideal would be to qualify for the French championships (from February 28 to March 2 inclusive, in Challans, Editor's note). We will all be in pain and we will have to be the best we can that day.

Results

Men's Masters 1 and above (8730 m): 1. Hicham Bengherda (Racing Multi Athlon), 32'02″; 5. Bertrand Raynaud (CS Provins), 32’09” – Benjamins (2870 m): 1. Sandro Sisowath (Neuilly Plaisance Sports), 11’35”; 2. Elias Duloquin (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 11’44” – Benjamines (2870 m): 1. Selma Langlois (Racing Multi Athlon), 12’26”; 6. Elysséa Marteau (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 12’50” – Minimes femmes (3530 m): 1. Céleste Lardon (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 14’16” – Minimes hommes (4170 m): 1. Laurent Kral (Pierrefitte Multi Athlon Villetaneuse), 15’34”; 11. Esteban Fabre (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 16’41” – Cadettes (4170 m): 1. Anna Desgardin (Neuilly Plaisance Sports), 17’14”; 7. Clara de Oliveira Joaquim (UA Montereau), 18'31″ – Cadets (4830 m): 1. Milo Serrao (CA Montreuil 93), 16'55″; 3. Maxime Noel (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 17’13” – Junior girls (4830 m): 1. Ambre Grasset (Neuilly Plaisance Sports), 19’10”; 13. Lily de Saint Jore (US Melun), 22'14″ – Long cross women's hopefuls, seniors and masters (7430 m): 1. Léonie Periault (Racing Multi Athlon), 29'25″; 20. Marine Flurian (CS Provins), 31'59″ – Junior boys (6790 m): 1. Tristan Douche (Neuilly Plaisance Sports), 23'48″; 13. Sloan Rincheval (Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 25'38″ – Long cross men's hopefuls, seniors and masters 0 (8730 m): 1. Nicolas Duré (Racing Multi Athlon), 30'56″; 2. Gabriel Briand, 31’02”; 3. Florian Carvalho (both from Pays de Fontainebleau Athlé), 31'14″ – Men's short cross (4170 m): 1. Téo Rubens Banini (Racing Multi Athlon), 14'45″; 10. Guillaume Lonjou (Avon Athlé Club), 15’14” – Women’s short cross (4170 m): 1. Fatima Charkaoui (AS Pierrefitte), 17’17”; 6. Jeanne Chauris (US Nemours), 18'00”.

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