A new world record was hoped for, even expected. Sydney McLaughlin shattered it. The American brilliantly concluded the eighth day of the world championships in Eugene (United States), on the night of Friday 22 to Saturday 23 July. A session during which the tricolor 4×100 m relay easily qualified for the final. Stainless, at 35, the pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie answered present and validated his ticket for the final.
Supersonic McLaughlin!
Without a doubt, the track at Hayward Field suits Sydney McLaughlin. For the third time in just over a year, the 22-year-old American has smashed the world record for the 400m hurdles there. In a final that she largely dominated from the first hurdle, the reigning Olympic champion got off to a quicker start than usual to put a slap of more than seven tenths to her previous mark. With 50″68, she becomes the first woman to fall below 51″, a year after being the first to fall below 52″.
After the Doha silver in 2019, Sydney McLaughlin won her first individual world title. She beat Dutch Femke Bol (52″27) and American Dalilah Muhammad (53″13).
The tricolor relay of the 4×100 m at the rendezvous
Despite the absence of the best French sprinter Mouhamadou Fall – ousted from the collective because of his threat of suspension – the French 4x100m relay qualified brilliantly in the final. Méba Mickaël Zézé, Pablo Matéo, Ryan Zézé and Jimmy Vicaut won their series in 38″09. They set the second fastest qualifying time, behind the American team (37″87), which had not fielded its best sprinters.
With good handovers, the tricolor torchbearers had a clean race. In the final (scheduled for Sunday July 24, at 4:50 a.m. Paris time), they each hope to run faster, without taking more risks on the handover. The last French men’s medal won in a world championship in the 4x100m dates back to 2011, when France won silver.
Renaud Lavillenie, to experience
Renaud Lavillenie got scared but was able to set the sights in time. After missing his first two attempts at 5.65m, the 2012 Olympic champion crossed this height on his third attempt, before erasing 5.75m on the second attempt. At 35, the Clermont pole vaulter will once again be at the rendezvous of a world final (scheduled for Monday July 25, at 2:25 a.m., Paris time).
On the other hand, his brother Valentin Lavillenie will not have succeeded in crossing a single bar. The third French entrant, Thibaut Collet, also failed to qualify, with only one bar crossed at 5.65 m.
Disappointment for Rénelle Lamote
Easy in the series, Rénelle Lamote did not have the legs in the semi-finals. While she dreamed of joining a world final, the Frenchwoman finished in a disappointing sixth place in her very tough semi-final, won by Kenyan Mary Moraa. While she regularly ran under 1’59” this season, Rénelle Lamote cut the line in 2’00″86.
Very well placed up to the 600 m, Rénelle Lamote could not respond to the accelerations of her competitors. Stating that she had felt “to have wooden legs”the 28-year-old attributed his bad feelings to his change of shoes (to those with carbon soles, supposed to promote performance) before the Worlds.
Very disappointed, Rénelle Lamote nevertheless already has her sights set on the European Games in Munich (August 15-21). During the last two editions of the European Championships, in Berlin (2018) and Amsterdam (2016), the Frenchwoman won silver.