by Larry Eder
Ortega, Martinot-Lagarde, Oliver, photo by PhotoRun.net
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde is on a roll. The 2014 World Indoor Silver medalist at 60 meters was hoping to improve on his 13.13 PB for the 110 meter hurdles from 2013.
On July 3, 2014, his wish came true! In Lausanne, Pascal had one of the best starts of his life, and he was off! Hurdle after hurdle, Martinot-Lagarde executed well and surpassed a field that included the 2011 World Champion (Jason Richardson), the 2013 World Champion (David Oliver), plus the 2013 World bronze medalist (Sergey Shubenkov) and 2013 WC silver medalist (Ryan Wilson).
” All felt good in Lausanne. I am not sure though, if I can run faster in Paris. I am sore and tired.” Those were the comments of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde on the 4th of July at the Meeting AREVA Press conferences.
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde runs 13.06, winning Lausanne,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Perhaps it was the lack of pressure. Perhaps it was the 35,000 screaming French fans. In Paris, on the 5th of July, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde battled Hansle Parchment, the Jamaican 110m hurdle specialist and Olympic bronze medalist. Parchment was having one of those breakout races, and just flew down the track, running the fastest time of the year, 12.94 and setting the Jamaican record. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, hurdled his own race, taking second, and setting another PB, in 13.05.
At the Herculis press conference, I asked Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, ” You have run 13.06, 13.05, 13.31 and 13.10 in a very short time. What have you learnt from those races?”
Pascal thought for a moment, then responded. ” I ran 13.10 recently, and it was the easiest race that I can remember. I would like to run 13 seconds this season. But, I have had a lesson. I had the World leader in Sopot, and thought a win would be easy and I took silver. I have the European leader now, and I can not be easy about Zurich. It is not about time, but about winning now. ”
Later this evening, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde is in a stacked 110m hurdle field. It will be interesting to see how the French hurdler, now coming into his won, does in Monaco.
With less than one month to the Europeans, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde needs to stay healthy and focused.
Zurich awaits him!
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, 3 July 2014, photo by PhotoRun.net
