“Checked!” “, said Jean-Sébastien Desgagnés, making a large hook with his hand. He had just fallen into the arms of his friend Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, who had shouted his encouragement to him at the start of the last lap.
It’s not official, but yes, it’s a done deal: Desgagnés has guaranteed his participation in his first Olympic Games, Thursday evening, at the Claude-Robillard sports complex in Montreal. The suspense was almost zero, let’s be honest, but the runner from Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges settled the matter with panache, getting rid of his last traveling companion with a loop and a half to go in the 3000 m steeplechase of the Trials of Canadian athletics.
Desgagnés galloped like a guy who finished eighth at the world championships last year, crossing the final river as if it didn’t exist before leaping over the hurdle on the final straight, punctuated by six fireworks on the ground.
The hero of the evening stopped the clock at 8 min 34.56 s, far from his personal best of 8 min 15.58 s achieved last year at the World Championships in Budapest, but that didn’t matter at all, especially with the wind blowing in Ahuntsic.
“I did what I wanted,” said Desgagnés, still excited, a few minutes after the end of the event.
The weather conditions were not easy, but the goal was to serve a good last 600 meters, a good last kilometer, as you have to do in championship races. I delivered the goods well. I was able to impose my rhythm well at the end. I was convincing. There was no doubt, then wind no wind, I had a plan in mind and I was going to execute it.
Jean-Simon Desgagnés
The essential was accomplished: a second national title and a first-class ticket to Paris for the medical student from Laval University. His best time is half a second off the qualifying standard, but his 22e place in the world rankings guarantees him a place among the 36 starters in the City of Lights. His place will be made official by Athletics Canada on Tuesday.
“In my head, I am 100% selected for the Games, in the sense that mathematically, it is done,” confirmed Desgagnés. I’ve been expecting it since the start of the season, but the box is checked. »
“A good show”
After following Mick Stanovsek, an Australian who came to try his luck for the Olympic minimum, the Quebecer took the lead in the 600 meters. He beat Ontario’s Kevin Roberston (8 min 37.91 s) and Alberta’s Aaron Ahl (8 min 39.16 s) to secure his victory, which he highlighted with a little celebratory jog in front of the stands quite very full on this chilly evening.
The 25-year-old is in love with his sport and wants to share it.
“We can criticize racing or individual sports for lacking soul or a sense of spectacle,” he said to explain his spontaneous enthusiasm. “Small gestures like that, having contact with the crowd, creating an atmosphere… Without them, we don’t have an event like this. It’s worth thanking them, putting energy into it.”
Desgagnés added that “an athletics race can be as interesting as a football match, if not more so.”
We are part of the world that pushes itself to the limit too. If we can put on a good show, people will keep coming.
Jean-Simon Desgagnés
On the microphone, Desgagnés thanked his family and his supporters who had traveled from Quebec, including his group of friends nicknamed “The Goons”, who will be 12 to accompany him to Paris. Beer in hand, they had fun chanting “JS” and “Paris” while the new Olympian continued the interviews.
“It’s really exceptional to have the whole gang behind me. We see them today, but they have been behind me for seven, eight, ten years. I was talking about it with my friend Marc-Alexandre. Five or six years ago, we dreamed of a medal at the Canadian championships. Today we dream of a top 10 at the Olympics. There game changed. “
One last spring
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Thomas Fafard
After a while, coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe had to come and tap his protégé on the shoulder to remind him with some firmness to go and do his cool-down jog. Two hours after the steeplechase, Desgagnés did indeed launch into the 5000m final to serve as a pacesetter for his teammate Thomas Fafard, who needed another good race to maintain his place among the Olympic qualifiers.
Desgagnés therefore threw away his last strength before pulling away after 1800 m, leaving Fafard with the responsibility of racing against the clock… with Olympic silver medalist Mohammed Ahmed hot on his heels. The Repentigny athlete held on for two laps, even dropping Ontarian Ben Flanagan, another big name from the Canadian bottom, thanks to his effort.
At the edge of the track, Philibert-Thiboutot did not fail to let him know, shouting his encouragement in the absence of being able to play the hare himself, as in British Columbia two weeks ago. A small hamstring problem forced the 1500m specialist to save himself for his races on Saturday and Sunday.
Ahmed shifted into sixth gear with two and a half laps remaining, crossing the line at 13:10.99 to improve the championship record that had stood since 2000 by 15 seconds.
“It’s great to see teammates help each other,” the winner said of the dynamic with Desgagnés. “He pushed really, really hard. You could feel how hungry he was every lap. I was very impressed.”
Encouraged by the enthusiastic crowd who had resisted the cold, Fafard fought like hell, flying through the final lap in less than a minute to cut the wire second and stop the clock at 13:18.82, his second fastest time in career. It was not enough to improve his lot – he will remain 41e out of 42 in the world rankings for the Olympics – but the silver medalist had nothing but pride to express to journalists.
We’re really going to hope that it’s enough to pass. I did what I could tonight. I tried, I went forward, I also received help from a teammate. It made a big difference. After that, I had no choice but to try to push as much as possible. When Moh passed, my goal was clearly to hang on, but I think he showed his dominance tonight!
Thomas Fafard
With four laps to go, he admitted that “the energy was at zero”, but he found a last resort by talking to himself “in his head” with words he could not repeat on camera… “It’s was my hardest race of the season so far. I am really happy. I don’t think I could have hoped for more under the circumstances. »
The 25-year-old must now “cross his fingers and say prayers” that no more than one cross-country skier will surpass him by the June 30 deadline. He will be watching the other national championships closely, particularly the one in Germany, where three pursuers are breathing down his neck. One or two qualified runners could also withdraw to focus on another event.
“What he did today won’t improve his ranking, but his way of running impressed me,” said coach Lapointe. “It’s still his second best time ever, a time that had never been done in Canadian championships, where the races are tactical. He dared and made Moh Ahmed push himself a little. Now, we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Fafard is already grateful to find himself in this position, he who was moving more towards road events after setting a Quebec record in his first half marathon at the start of the year. A personal best of 13:05 in Brussels a month ago, however, put him back in contention for the Olympics. “It’s crazy what a race can change. »
The Olympic contender also showed off spikes and clothing provided by Brooks, a new sponsor who will support him for at least two years. Fafard is now a “real” pro runner, like his friends Philibert-Thiboutot and Desgagnés. After this outpouring of solidarity, the Quebec middle-distance trio wants to shine together on the Stade de France track.