Mélanie Skotnik jumps at the Franch Indoor Championships in Aubière (© AFP / Getty Images)
One week after tying the 18year-old national record with 1.96m in Aubière, high jumper Mélanie Skotnik added one centimetre in the same indoor hall during the third and final day of French National Championships yesterday (18).
With a clearance at 1.97m, the 1.82m and 56kg jumper actually tied her personal best set in 2003, when she was formerly competed for Germany.
Skotnik ended the afternoon with three narrow misses at 1.99m. As to why she didn’t chose to try 2.00m instead, her coach and partner Jimmy Melfort explained: “We have known for some time now that she has 2.00m in her legs. Competing indoors was not an objective as we are preparing the summer season. She is coming up progressively (she jumped 1.95 in Brussels, 1.93 in Maromme and 1.96 in Aubière), thus we keep that 2.00m attempt for a later meet.”
Skotnik herself added, “this indoor season, I’ve face all kind of rivals, jumped on several track surfaces, taken part in different competition durations, so I’m really prepared for anything, everything in Birmingham (European Indoor Championships, 2-4 March 2007).
Two metres has been successfully cleared by four women this season - Venelina Veneva (BUL, 2.02), Blanka Vlasic (CRO, 2.01), Tia Hellebaut (BEL, 2.00) and Antonietta di Martino (ITA, 2.00). “It’s only a matter of details, minor technical amendments before I reach these heights”, adds the confident Skotnik.
Okori in good shape
Reïna-Flor Okori showed similar confidence as she dominated the 60m Hurdles, running three times under her recent personal best of 8.04 : she won the three rounds in 8.01 (heats), 7.97 (semi-final) and 7.99 (final), which places the 26-year-old hurdler among the favourites for an European indoor champs medal.
“I’m in good shape, I’m healthy, and since I love competition, the times are getting better,” says French soft-voiced hurdler. Her long time rival Adrianna Lamalle ran 8.08 in semi-final, but her lack lustre start in the final required an impressive comeback to snatch silver in 8.18 from Alice Decaux 8.19.
In Ladji Doucouré’s absence - the 110m hurdles World champion is still treating his calf injury - Cédric Lavanne won the men’s sprint hurdles with 7.73.
200m indoors for ’fun and speed’
Idrissa M’Barke was undoubtedly the male performer of the day with a 20.70 second run at 200m. Running on lane 6, the 1.96m tall quarter-miler displayed relaxation and smooth technique to cover the indoor lap which was faster than his previous personal best of 20.90 set in heats two days ago.
“I’m doing 200m indoors to have fun and work on my speed. A good speed base in necessary to reach world class level at 400m, if I manage to run 20.40-20.50 outdoors, this base will provide more speed reserve to me and better confidence,” noted the 23-year-old Frenchman, who is expected to smash his 400m outdoor personal best (45.86) this summer.
M’Barke’s coach Laurence Bily (former 100m French Record holder with 11.04) confirms his progresses at training : “during a recent workout, he ran so fast with such an easy feeling that he couldn’t believe the stopwatch”. M’Barke who is a student in sport management, will take about ten days rest before resuming his outdoor season preparation.
New young female sprint hope
The women’s 200m was won by a 18-year-old sprint hope, Emilie Gaydu (1.66m, 46kg), with a new personal best of 23.55. “It’s really a surprise for me, the title and the time, I was so tired today that I told myself, this is my last race I will give my all”, admits Georges Wieczorek’s protegee, who only started athletics two years and a half ago.
Sdiri defeated; Bucki keeps-on putting far
Another surprise came from Kafetien Gomis, who took men’s Long Jump victory on the last jump with 8.09m, from favourite Salim Sdiri (8.04).
Gaëtan Bucki, first French shot putter over 20m indoors in January (20.00 in Lille, 20.01 in Mondeville), confirmed his current form with a 19.94 release.
“This competition helped me to experience long competitions, as today it was more than 80 minutes long, while in Mondeville it was 45min. Thus, I had problems to find the good rhythm and stay “up” in between each attempt”, analyses Bucki. Female teammate Laurence Manfredi won her 11th successive indoor national title with a 17.26 put.
Other notable results included, 1:47.27 by Florent Lacasse at 800m winning with a 2sec margin, and 5.65m by Pole Vaulter Jérome Clavier.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
Click here for FULL RESULTS
