End of three intense days of competition at the Hélitas stadium in Caen, in Calvados. The French athletics championships in Caen ended this Sunday, June 26. A competition that brought together the best athletes in the country and also offered qualification places for the world and European championships to athletes who achieved the qualifying times.
The smile of Flavie Renouard
This is the good news from Caen for these championships. The licensee of the Mondeville-Hérouville athletic agreement has finished 2nd in the 3000 steeplechase in 9’53’‘ behind the untouchable favorite Alice Finot, victorious in 9’48”. Highly acclaimed by her audience at the Hélitas stadium, Flavie Renouard led the leading pack for a long time but could not do much in the face of the acceleration of the French record holder 700m from the finish.
Time record for Sasha Zhoya
The young hope of French athletics signs a very good performance on his 20th birthday. He won the 110m hurdles in 13 seconds 17 and thus shattered his personal record. It is also the 6th best global performance of the year and the best in Europe. He will head to the world championships in Eugene in the United States from July 15 to 24.
Rénelle Lamote under two minutes
On the 800 meters, Rénelle Lamote retains its title of champion of France and above all beat the record for the French championships. Victory below the 2 minute mark in 1 minute 58 seconds and 17 hundredths. “It’s a record I’ve been watching for a long time, even if it wasn’t the goal, I saw that it could pass so I gave it my all“explains the Frenchwoman after her race.
Renaud Lavillenie against the wind
A second place and wind for pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie. It is the young Thibaut Collet who wins, same height cleared, but the difference is made in the number of tries. A competition marked by rain and wind, which did not make Renaud Lavillenie happy: “I’m glad it’s over. The wind was our worst enemy. We had to fight, we were all in trouble, many of us had mental leaps out. The results are not that bad in this context.“
The Happio Affair
This time it’s not sport. 400m hurdles specialist Wilfried Happio was the victim of an attack on Saturday a few minutes before his race. A man rushed at him to hit him on the warm-up stadium. A man quickly arrested by the municipal police. According to AFP, which quotes a judicial source, “this is a private dispute between two people who know each other”. The French athletics federation filed a complaint. The athlete declined to comment. Still, he started his race well, with his left eye bandaged. Race he won by beating his personal best.