Christine Arron of France in the 100m heats (© Getty Images)
While the two expected highlights – women's 400 Hurdles and women's Hammer - didn't fully materialise, local star Christine Arron made the show for the French public at the Meeting Lille Metropole – IAAF Grand Prix - taking a sprint double, 100m (11.18) and 200m (22.60) into a headwind.
Arron to possibly double in Athens
While Christine Arron's victory in the shortest sprint didn't come as a surprise, her performance in the 200m tells more about her current shape especially as she was facing Paris 2003 World bronze medallist Muriel Hurtis. Having already made the difference at the end of the bend, Arron didn't fade in the home straight and Hurtis could never close the gap (22.60 to 22.87).
An elated Arron declared: "This performance is really good news, as I was still getting over the disappointment with my race in Noisy le Grand – 22.95 on June 8. The feelings are completely different and it shows I've now "digested" the heavy training sessions. I think doubling at the Olympics is possible, but my priority remains on the 100m. The 200m would be bonus, if I'm ready for it."
Hurdles recall – the battle that never was
In the women’s 400m Hurdles, the much awaited confrontation between World record holder Yulia Pechonkina of Russia and Australia’s 2003 World champion Jana Pittman ended on a sour note in the middle of the second bend when the Australian suddenly pulled out of the race, leaving the field wide open for an easy victory for Pechonkina (53.90).
An angry Pittman immediately went to lodge a protest because a late call back of the starter hadn't provoked any reaction among the runners who just carried on in the race.
"I don't know if the others heard about it, but nobody reacted. I pulled back and lost my rhythm. There was no point for me to finish as I'd have run in 58 something" she declared, hugely disappointed, adding that she was in terrific shape and had intended to go for a PB.
"Naturally, we heard the second bang of the starter" confirmed later Teresa Tereshchuk-Antipova and Yuliya Pechonkina "but one doesn't call back a 400 Hurdles after 6-7 seconds into the race". Pechonkina also added she was happy with her performance for what she considered no more than a training race.
Four over 70m in the women’s Hammer
The women’s Hammer Throw saw four athletes above 70m in a close contest which was eventually won by World champion Yipsi Moreno who threw 72.38m and 72.65m on her last two attempts. Chinese Gu Yuan, who had led most of the event had to settle for second with 71.36m, while Ukraine Iryna Sekachova and Manuela Montebrun of France had best throws of 70.58m and 70.19m.
Yegorova on form
In the women's 1500m, Russia's 2001 World 5000m champion Olga Yegorova set the third best time of the season with 4.02.93, and was distantly followed home by Bouchra Benthami of Morocco (4:05.33).
Francique not quite on song
In the men's 400m, world leader Alleyne Francique won the race without really shining, as Milazar came home strongly behind in the last metres (45.44 for 45.60) but it was not a cause for worry for the sprinter of Grenada.
”It was my first competition in a month and I just flew from the US to France last night,” said Francique. “A win is a win and I cannot complain. Even if I came to run below 45, you cannot run 44 everyday. Also you understand that my priority is not to shine in the seasonal meetings but to represent well my country at the Olympics.”
Liu Xiang wins ‘slow’ Hurdles
Chinese Liu Xiang took the110m Hurdles in an unusually slow 13.41 ahead of Frenchman Ladji Doucoure (13.50), while in the High Jump Russian Vyacheslav Voronin dominated Andriy Sokolovskiy of Ukraine, Russian Yaroslav Rybakov and Frenchman Gregory Gabella by 2 centimetres, 2.30m for 2.28m.
In the men's 100m, Nigeria's Uchenna Emedolu didn't confirm his 10.05 from Rethymno earlier this week, as he was beaten into second place by Brazil's Vincente Lenilson de Lima 10.38 against 10.30.
In the 200m, American favourites Darvis Patton and Joshua Johnson were unexpectedly defeated by Frenchman Ronald Pognon, already a winner in Milan on June 2, who clocked 20.76 into a 1.8 headwind.
Then men's 5000m turned into a duel between Salem Jawher of Bahrain – formerly Leonard Mucheru – and little known- Ethiopian runner Zwendie Maregu, aged 22. The former was in control and his burst of acceleration at the entrance of home straight was left unanswered for a win in 13:05.21, which was the world’s 8th best time of the season. The 800m went to fellow countryman Youssef Saad Kamel (formerly Gregory Konchellah) in 1:45.78.
Carole Fuchs for the IAAF
