Francoise Mbango returns to action with world leader in Addis Ababa (© Jiro Mochizuki (Agence shot))
Albi, FranceFor three days the National Championships (24-26) are being hosted in the town of Albi, and the meet serves as the final selection opportunity for the French athletes to get qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
On the first day (24), Christine Arron at 100m and Leslie Djhone at 400m easily advanced for the next rounds and both found encouraging points in their respective heats after an up and down season.
The women’s Triple Jump provided the highlight of a 29C and sunny day with Françoise Mbango Etone from the Cameroon, performing a fine series : 14.31m(-0,6) / X(-1,2) / 14.82m(+2,7) / 14.62m(-0,9) / 14.74m(+0,9) / X(-0,2). The reigning Olympic champion confirmed her rising shape 5 days after her 14.95m in Barcelona (third World best performer of the year) and two years after giving birth. The French title went to Teresa Nzola Meso Ba with 14.20.
Arron - "I'm not running after the standards, but after my own shape!“
Christine Arron, European 100m record holder (10.73) for 10 years, won her heat in 11.21 (wind +1.5), a significant improvement from her 11.34 season best. Delayed in her preparations due to health problems, she arrived in Albi short of competition. The 34-year-old opened her season in Lille on 27 June (her latest ever opener) in 11.47, then ran in Strasbourg on 2 July (11.34) and in Tanger, doubling 100m (11.34) and 200m (23.40).
Deceived by her performances, Arron was expecting to run both events in Albi. 100m heats were held on Thursday (24), semis and final as well as 200m heats are scheduled on Friday (25), and 200m semis and final on Saturday (26). Already pre-selected at 100m, she has to set the 22.72 French standard to be able to double in Beijing.
Her coach Stéphane Caristan was not surprised by the improvement of the sprinter and analysed the race as encouraging. “The race is similar to what I saw at training. Her feet are not active enough, she struggles to display her power at the start, but it's coming progressively. We chose the option to lighten the training load since Tanger and this race prove that we were right to do so.”
Arron explained that she just found out the reason of her chronic fatigue. “4 or 5 days ago, I finally found the food that was causing it, I'm now on a strict diet. I need to find energy again. This season, I did a good endurance base at training, but when the time came to enter into the specific speed phase, various problems started to disturb the preparation.”
Although satisfied by her 100m heat, she is still looking for more: “That's not yet a great performance, but it is better, taking in account my previous competitions. At Olympics, I'm targeting the medals, although I reckon it will be tough. There has never been such a performance density at 100m (7 women at 10.90 or better), this is really stunning. As for now, I'm not running after the standards, but after my own shape!"
Djhone – ready to "go crazy”
Fifth place at World Championships last year with 44.46, Leslie Djhone is pre-selected at 400m for the Olympics, but is looking for a faster time than his 45.35 so far in 2008.
“I've always preferred Championships rather than meetings, so I'm particularly motivated,” stated the 27-year-old, who won his heat in a relaxed style (46.23).
“This year, I've been hampered with posterior muscles chain pains related to spine alignment issues. Today, I had to be cautious, but tomorrow (for the final), I'll go crazy!”
Brice Panel had the fastest time of the day, setting a new season's best in 45.84. "My coach told me to run 45.8 today because every time I run fast in heats, I set a personal best the very next day."
Nouredine Smail impressed in winning the 5000m final in a tactical 13:38.22 which was concluded by a fast 58sec last lap.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
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