byLarry Eder
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, photo by PhotoRun.net
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde has gone from a very good hurdler to one of the world’s elite. He finished the Diamond League season with his win in Brussels earlier today.
Pascal Martinot Lagarde has had some amazing performances in 2014.
In an interview in Paris, earlier this season, Martinot-Lagarde told me that he was surprised he had run so fast in Lausanne, and cautioned me to not expect a PB in Paris, yet, twice in three days, Martinot Lagarde ran two personal bests.
In Monaco, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde ran his near perfect race of the season! Running 12.94 for the win, Martinot-Lagarde broke the French national record of Ladji Doucoure (12.97). The crowd in Monaco went crazy as there had been a plethora of fine French performances that night!
The European Champs were a different story. Perhaps Martinot-Lagarde had his eye off the prize for one second, but, tat was all that mattered.
Martinot -Lagarde hit several hurdles in the European final, and he went from gold, to silver, to bronze.
Martinot-Lagarde had taken a European medal, perhaps, not the one he desired, but, in the world of elite 110 meter hurdling, one mistake changes everything.
For 2014, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde has had a learning year. His win in Brussels, in 13.08, gives him a winning race for the end of his season.
And something to focus on for 2015.
The road to Beijing has begun.
