In a bit of a blur since he had not run this summer due to discomfort in an Achilles tendon, Sasha Zhoya had an afternoon that he will remember. The 6th in the 2023 World Championships in the 110m hurdles almost did not qualify for the final. His left block went off at the start, he raised his hand to ask for a recall of the race, but the starters did not react.
Zhoya continued and finished the race in 2nd place in 13″84 (-0.4 m/s), enough to pass. In the final, he completed his race in 13″32 (wind -1.1 m/s). s), not free from errors, logical given his lack of competitions this summer. Note that he had achieved the minimums (13”27) in the summer of 2023, and “only” had to confirm his condition. in good shape in Angers.
« My average start in the final is a consequence of the series: with the blocks that are not the best blocks, I needed to change my foot at the start, I could not have the same push, so I had to make adaptations, Zhoya explained. It’s still a better start than the semi-final. I’m not totally happy. I expected a better final. But since I didn’t have a real series race, my final was more like my series race, after which I could have changed things for the final, but I didn’t have that chance today. But it’s okay. It’s still early in the season and we can correct the mistakes I made here at the Paris meeting. (July 7) and on the next competitions.
Zhoya beat his training buddy Erwann Cinna (13″48) and Romain Lecoeur (13″53). Raphaël Mohamed, 4th at the Euro in Rome, also finished 4th in 13″63. He had achieved the Olympic minimums. While the younger generation takes power, the older generation appears to be in the background. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (32 years old ), who had bet everything on these France, is 5th in 13″70. Wilhem Belocian (29 years old) relaxed his effort at the end of the race, finishing 8th in 13.79.
Another highlight of the hot Angevin afternoon, the pole vault final. Renaud Lavillenie played his best, but could not do better than 5.60 m, crossed on the second attempt. The Olympic minimums were set at 5.82 m. The 2012 Olympic champion will not compete in his fourth Olympics, but remembers how far he has come since his major operation last September. He finished tied for 3rd with Robin Emig, while Thibaut Collet won with 5.82 m, ahead of Anthony Ammirati, 2nd with 5.60 m.
« I tried 5.96m because I would have liked to beat the Championship record that Renaud had achieved here and beat my record, which is 5.95m, reacted Collet. The wind decided that today wasn’t going to happen, but I’m still happy because when I see the overall result of the competition, I’m quite happy to do 5.82 m. I am consistent at this level. The goal is to repeat this type of performance as many times as possible. I would like it to increase a little, but I still have competitions and the whole training period. It’s a Championship, the goal is to win, it’s my fifth title and that’s all I remember. »
Nobody could stop Gémima Joseph from completing the 100m – 200m double as the Guyanese is in such good shape this weekend. In the final, Joseph won in 22″62 (-0.3 m/s) ahead of Hélène Parisot, bronze medalist at the Euro in Rome (22″92) and the young Alexe Deau, 19 years old (23″ 32).
Tual untouchable, Meziane at the foot of the podium
In the men’s 800m, a race full of dangers, Gabriel Tual confirmed that he was the current boss in France, a few weeks after his title of European champion. The big winner of the final, Tual beat his record with 1’43″99. Behind him, Benjamin Robert took second place in 1’44″99.
Corentin Le Clezio then beat Yanis Meziane on the line after a superb finish, to take third place in 1’45″23 on the podium and, certainly, his selection for the Olympic Games, since Meziane had also achieved the minimums. A revelation last season, the athlete who trains in Evry finished 4th in 1’45″27.
Another memorable moment, the women’s 400m hurdles final. Louise Maraval won a tasty duel against Shana Grebo, diving under 54 seconds. Maraval shattered his record (54″23) by almost half a second, in 53″71. The European vice-champion from Rome kept a short advantage over the student from the University of Oregon, 2nd in 53″78, the Olympic minimum in her pocket. The two hurdlers are getting closer to Marie-José’s French record Pérec, 53″21 in 1995.
Guillemot as boss, the surprise Kounta
In the high jump, Nawal Meniker won with 1.90 m, winning her first outdoor elite title after three second places. Solène Gicquel is this time her runner-up, also with 1.90 m, but with failures while Meniker made no mistakes. Mélina Robert-Michon won her 23rd French discus champion title, but the performance still did not satisfy the 2016 Olympic vice-champion (60.30 m), who will qualify for the Olympic Games through the ranking.
Agathe Guillemot won the 1,500m title with authority, in 4’07″00, a Championship record. The Breton, who already has the minimums in her pocket, beat Aurore Fleury (4’08″20). Muhammad Kounta shattered his record to become French 400m champion, in 45″19, while Wilfried Happio won without effort, in 49″54. Tom Campagne offered himself his first elite outdoor length title thanks to a second attempt at 8.05 m (-0.4 m/s).
The selection commission will meet on July 3 to establish the list of qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.
