Canadian Track and Field Trials | ‘Really amazing to experience this’

(Montreal) When her name was announced, Audrey Leduc came “close” to feeling chills as she received the encouragement of the crowd, standing in the packed stands of the Claude-Robillard sports complex, Friday evening. Her concentration was such that she ultimately didn’t get goosebumps.

By settling in the blocks, the sprinter from Gatineau probably did not hear the plane which continued its approach towards the Montreal-Trudeau airport. For this 100-meter final of the Canadian Track and Field Trials, all she had in mind was lane 4, which she was preparing to pound with her spikes. At the end awaited the officialization of his first participation in the Olympic Games.

She still had to run and not project herself too far ahead, as she repeated to herself while watching preparatory videos for Paris earlier this week.

First in the semi-finals in 11.09, almost three tenths faster than her closest competitor, the new holder of the Canadian record (10.96) was obviously the huge favourite. Could the one who has continued to accelerate since the beginning of the year go under 11 seconds again?

However, the race was much closer than expected. Audrey Leduc crossed the 100 meters with her eyes almost closed from start to finish, stopping the clock at 11.20, her slowest time in 2024. She opened them as soon as she crossed the line, without raising her arms before her phase. slowdown.

She expressed her emotion by placing a Canadian flag on her shoulders before heading in the opposite direction to greet the public who had supported her so well. The new national champion pointed to her team who were heard at the top of the stands.

“It’s really exceptional to be able to experience this, especially in Quebec, in front of this crowd, in front of my family,” reacted Leduc, catching his breath in front of the journalists. I couldn’t ask for better. »

A few seconds earlier, she had held up the giant boarding pass on which she had placed her mark, thus confirming her seat on the plane to Paris. “At the time, I don’t know what to say,” smiled the MBA student at Laval University. Oh my GodI’m going to Paris? But I know it and I’m really happy.”

Leduc said she managed to control her nerves by drawing on her experience at the 2022 Canada Games, where she won three gold medals.

“Having that pressure, in a way, two years ago, prepared me to handle it today with my mental coach. I met him there and we’ve been working together for two years for moments like this. It’s good practice for the Games too.”

The timing? She explained it by the cool temperature and the relatively long presentation that preceded the gunshot. “I have the impression that it probably had an impact on the performance as such. Otherwise, I can’t say.”

Leduc had no idea of ​​the identity and times of his closest rivals. “I didn’t have any expectations actually, I was just going to win my race,” said the woman who is now turning her attention to the 200m on Sunday.

Another Quebecer in the running for Paris

Jacqueline Madogo, a francophone from Ottawa, finished second in 11.36, exactly the same time as in the semi-final. Quebecer Marie-Éloïse Leclair completed the podium in 11.44, confirming her great potential and probably a first Olympic selection in the 4 X 100 m relay.

The Candiac sprinter was proud to have overcome a semi-final below her expectations (6^e in 11.47). “It shows that I am capable of achieving my goals when it counts,” noted the Saint-Laurent Sélect representative and student at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

“In the semis, I was focused on making the final, which is a fairly vague objective. I knew I wanted to finish in the top three in the final. By setting more specific goals, it gave me a clearer look at the finish line. »

After replacing the injured Madogo at the World Relays last month, Leclair hopes she has done enough to secure her ticket to Paris. “With what we did together in the Bahamas, I had shown that I was able to handle pressure well, to do what was asked at the right time,” recalled the 21-year-old athlete.

From Grasse? Yes, no, maybe!

The men’s 100m final was also closer than expected. Andre De Grasse won in 10.20, but there was a moment of confusion when Eliezer Adjibi’s name appeared at the top of the scoreboard. The announcer even confirmed his victory, prompting the little-known Ottawa sprinter to grab the Maple Leaf flag for a celebratory run.

After a few minutes, the real ranking was restored in favor of De Grasse, who was amused by this unusual situation, which he did not think he had experienced since the junior ranks. “I was a little confused, I thought I won, I didn’t see anyone in my peripheral vision! explained the double Olympic medalist in the 100 meters. I thought, OK, maybe I got caught in the hallway outside or something. It was a good joke! »

Dejected, Adjibi did not dare join the others in celebrating what remains a superb silver medal – and quite possibly a spot on the Canadian Olympic team.

“We all crossed the line at almost the same time,” noted the 10.23-time winner. “I saw that I had won, but I wasn’t sure. It stayed like that for a little while. I thought, ‘OK, apparently I won.’ I didn’t understand how they made the mistake, but there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s still a good thing.”

Chief timekeeper Sylvain Richard explained that there had been “a synchronization problem between the start sheets and the electronic data.” “I don’t know the origin of the problem, but Adjibi was in lane 5 in my system [alors qu’il était dans le 6] and when I pointed it out [sur la photo d’arrivée], it was his name that appeared. »

Not at all impressed by veterans De Grasse and Aaron Brown, third in 10.25, Adjibi was convinced he could win, he who claims a personal best of 10.04 achieved in Guelph at the beginning of the month. “I was injured last year, I couldn’t make the final,” explained the Beninese. So let’s say that coming second is a big step forward. It’s still good, even if I didn’t win.”

As for De Grasse, who failed to go under 10 seconds for the first time this year, he nevertheless said he was very satisfied and ready for his third Olympics.

“We’re five weeks away from the Games. I’m working hard. Training is going well and I’m healthy. I feel pretty confident and pretty good. I’m just going to ride this momentum and head to Paris.”