Teddy Tamgho of France on his way to the World Indoor Triple Jump record in Doha (© Getty Images)
Teddy Tamgho confirmed his world season leader status in the Triple Jump with 17.63w and 17.60 performances in Montreuil on the occasion of the first episode of Alma Athlé Tour (8).
Competing in the meeting organised by his club (CA Montreuil 93), Tamgho offered to the crowd an impressive series with five jumps over 17m: 17.04 (+1.8), 17.63 (+2.3), 16.60 (+1.4), x, 17.11 (+0.9), 17.59 (+1.1).
“My goal is to jump over this barrier every time, everywhere”, said the Frenchman.
In Montreuil, no less than five triple jumpers did so, providing tough opposition for Tamgho. Ukrainian Viktor Kuznyestov took the lead with 17.00, before Tamgho replied with 17.04. The former then matched his personal best with 17.23 (w+2.0).
Tamgho took the control of the competition on his 2nd attempt, as he equalled his own world Leading mark with 17.63, with too much wind assistance (+2.3).
“I have a slight problem at the 2nd step of my Triple Jump… this step is too short, not complete, the foot leaves the ground too soon. And on my last attempt, I twisted at landing and my feet touched in the sand (too early) which reduced the distance.”
Despite these minor technical flaws, Tamgho is still sailing on the wave of his World Indoor title won in Doha in March, which came with a new World Indoor record (17.90).
“I want to go even farther, but as long as I’m over 17m, I’m satisfied. Now the competition season has started, all the training work has been done, I won’t improve my power anymore at this stage of the season,” explained Tamgho.
“What I’m looking for is gaining experience, hence I’m flying to the New York Diamond League (12 June) because I’ve never done several competitions in a row like this. Regardless the result, I will check how my body will adapt. My goal is to stay healthy and listen to my body.”
Behind Tamgho and Kuznyestov were Cuban Alexis Copello, 17.14 (+2.3), Grenadian Randy Lewis 17.08 (+1.4) and Slovakian Dimitrij Valukevich 17.04 (+3.0).
Falzon surprises
Stéphanie Falzon provided the main surprised at the beginning of the meet, in the women’s Hammer Throw with 73.40m at her first attempt, moving up to 7th in the season’s world lists. Her four other measured throws were all over 70m.
“I’m very pleased to match my personal best and achieve the qualification standard for the European Championships. However, I’m a little frustrated to have done it at the first try, because it’s always the one where the legs are shaking, where the athlete is stressed and doesn’t deliver a full effort. As soon as I threw, I knew it was over 70m but was surprised when I heard 73.40. It’s a kind of a comeback for me, after some personal issue last year. This season, I plan to travel a lot from meets to meets, as I did in 2008 when I set my personal best.”
Headwinds for sprints
On the other side of the ‘Stade Jean Delbert’, the sprinters faced strong headwinds. Jamaican Kerron Stewart easily won the women’s 100m in 11.21sec into 1.1m/s, from Ruddy Zang Milama (GAB), 11.35.
“I try to work on my first 30m, today it was good but it could have been a lot better,” commented the 100m Olympic and World silver medallist, who repeated her 2009 Montreuil win. “Every athlete has a small meet they like to compete, this is the one I like.”
Weather conditions and track quality prevented the Jamaican approaching her 10.94 season best, let alone her 10.75 personal best.
“The season will be very long, my goals are to stay healthy and run fast. There’s a long way before the World (Continental) Cup (September) and Commonwealth Games (October), and I will see how my season goes before deciding if I will push my competition season until then”.
Dwain Chambers (GBR) took the men’s 100m race a few minutes later in 10.27sec, one tenth in front of Lerone Clarke (JAM) into a 2.7 wind.
“Every meeting is an opportunity to race, no matter what the conditions are, I tried to stay relax, but when I heard the wind measurement, I understood why I was so tired in the last 20 metres,” explained Chambers. “I’m still training, trying to do the best as I can, just taking life easy.”
Lavillenie, first time at 5.70m takes victory over Mesnil
The Pole Vault offered another classic dual between Renaud Lavillenie and Romain Mesnil, where Lavillenie leads the head to head with 23 wins versus 15 for Mesnil. In Montreuil, the competition was tough between the two Frenchmen. Both were successful at each bar until Mesnil failed twice at 5.70, and finally mastered the bar at his third attempt, while Lavillenie managed to do it at his first try. Both then asked for a 5.82 but none of them managed to do it.
“The conditions were not optimal”, mourned the winner Lavillenie. “The wind was swirling, the competition lasted 1hr30mins before the bar reach 5.70 and the light faded when it was 5.82. I used a bigger pole but I couldn’t display enough physical involvement.”
“After my win in Oslo Diamond League (5.80), this result gives me ambitions for the coming meets. Better conditions will produce higher performances. I will have to have more control over bigger poles and find some freshness, because there will be a fierce competition to get qualified for the European Championships. The French National Champs will definitively be the Trials with Romain, Jerome Clavier, Damiel Dossevi and probably a few others as well.”
Mesnil, coming back from a calf injury, was lacking checking marks. “I was using a reduced run-up and small poles today, and managed to compete like this thanks to my experience”, explained the 32-year-old. “I used this injury to have more rest and take my time, trying to not change my competition plan and just lightening the training load. I didn’t pole vaulted at all for 20 days, so I was happy to play at 5.70 tonight!”
Payne beaten by Thomas
In the 110m Hurdles, USA’s Olympic silver medallist David Payne was beaten by Jamaican Dwight Thomas who dipped into the finish line in 13.37, only 0.01sec before the American, into a 1.3 wind.
“This is only my second race, it’s a very good time considering the conditions”, estimated Thomas, a former sprinter (10.00 at 100m in 2005) who has focused on hurdles in the last couple of years. “My focus was the technique, knowing my main challenger was Payne. It could have been better. I still have to improve the dive over the hurdle and the lead leg. Hopefully, I’m aiming for a 13.0 this season.
Damu Cherry won the women’s Hurdles in 12.82 (w-1.6).
Both hurdles winners have announced they will compete next in Sotteville, the second meeting of the Alma Athlé Tour.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
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