Despite the rain, the second day of the French Championships in Angers held its share of surprises, good and bad, on Saturday. In the suspenseful final of the men’s 3000m steeplechase, four men competed for the three places for the Olympic Games. In the end, Nicolas-Marie Daru won the title in 8’24″37, ahead of Louis Gilavert (8’24″39), who had been deprived of the European Championships despite his best French time, and third place went to Alexis Miellet (8’24″91). The European champion from Rome, affected in a calf, was uncertain. He fought hard to beat Djilali Bedrani, unfortunate 4th in 8’25″27.
« Frankly, to manage to finish 3rd in a race like that is incredible, reacted Miellet. It’s Djilali who pays the price, but for me the objective was not to finish last. This (SATURDAY) morning, I didn’t yet know if I was going to run. »
Pizzo wins the title, Lamote in trouble
The women’s 800m final was also very dense. Only Anaïs Bourgoin achieved the minimums this season. Rénelle Lamote did them at the end of last season. At the finish, it was Charlotte Pizzo who won in 1’59″93, a new personal best. The athlete trained by Thierry Choffin in Fontainebleau is ahead of Bourgoin, 3rd in the Euro in Rome (2’00” 20), and Clara Liberman (2’01″09). Lamote, in difficulty this season, ranks 4th in 2’01″59, ahead of Léna Kandissounon (2’01″65).
Lett surprises Bapté, Mornet does the same with Habz
In the surprise section, in the 100m hurdles, Pauline Lett won the national title in 12″94 (+ 1.6 m/s), a personal record. The 32-year-old from Metz beat the favourite Laëticia Bapté (12″97). Sacha Alessandrini came third in 12″99. The European heptathlon vice-champion Auriana Lazraq-Khlass, Lett’s training partner in Metz, finished 6th in 13″45 (13”36 in the heats). The European champion and best world performer of the year Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who was ill (covid), preferred to abstain.
Azeddine Habz, big favorite in the 1500m, had to lose in the final to Romain Mornet and Maël Gouyette. Mornet won by a whisker in 3’43″76, compared to 3’43″86 for Gouyette, who achieved the Olympic minimums this season, and Habz, therefore, 3rd in 3″43″99. Mornet, currently 34th in the ranking, could qualify for the Olympics thanks to this victory, if he gains two places.
Zézé confirms, Matéo cracks
Ryan Zézé retained his title of French 200m champion, in 20″37 (+ 1.1 m/s), ahead of Dylan Vermont, in very good shape with a new record (20″54). The surprise came from Pablo Matéo, who got stuck at the end of the race after a good turn, until he fell at the finish. He finished 4th in 20″61. CA Montreuil 93 sprinter Harold Achi-Yao took bronze in 20″59 (new record).
Thomas Gogois, bronze medalist at the Euro in Rome this month, had to settle for third place for France, with 16.72 m (+ 1.6 m/s). The title was won by Melvin Raffin with 16.83 m (+ 1.3 m/s), ahead of Enzo Hodebar (16.75 m, + 1.1). His coach, Benjamin Compaoré, finished 7th with 16.34 m (+1.3) for the last competition of his career, at age 36. Teddy Tamgho failed in his quest for Olympic minimums, finishing 5th with 16.47 m (+ 0.7),
Lesueur-Aymonin has passed the baton
There are still events where logic was respected. In the long jump, Hilary Kpatcha won with 6.70 m ahead of Eloyse Lesueur-Aymonin (6.66 m) and the young jumper from EFS Reims Rogilia Bissemo (22 years old) with 6.62 m.
Yann Chaussinand retained his hammer title acquired last year in Albi with a throw of 78.37 m. Behind him, Quentin Bigot remained at 74.67 m. The Lorraine native will therefore not see the Olympic Games since he did not achieve the minimums this season.
European champion Alice Finot unsurprisingly won the 3000m steeplechase title, in 9’29″78, ahead of Flavie Renouard (9’33″73) and Ophélie Serra-Boxberger (10’03″22), her first podium since his return from suspension for doping.
Marie-Julie Bonnin won the national pole vault title with 4.48 m, ahead of Ninon Chapelle (4.41 m). Alizée Minard won her second French championship title in the javelin (56.95 m), Lolasson Djouhan broke the Championship record in the discus with 63.56 m. Amandine Brossier won the 400m final in 52.08, far from the Olympic minimums (50.95). At the end of the evening, Gabriel Bordier won the 10,000 m walk (non-Olympic distance) in 39’00”49.
The French Championships end on Sunday with the climax of the men’s pole vault final and the 110m hurdles.
