by Larry Eder
Christophe Lemaitre, photo by PhotoRun.net
Jimmy Vicaut and Christophe Lemaitre are fine sprinters. Vicaut is the European leader over 100 meters. Lemaitre should be the European leader and medal contender over 200 meters.
Jimmy Vicaut, photo by PhotoRun.net
They were both in Lille at the Championnats de France for different reasons: Vicaut for 200 meter qualifier, and Lemaitre to make sure he was okay to race.
Both got their answers….
The Championnats de France Elite had a nice crowd on Sunday: six thousand approximately on Saturday and probably eight thousand on Sunday.
The draws were all of the finals, but especially, the 110 meter hurdles, the men’s pole vault, women’s 200 meters, men’s 800 meters, and of course, the final event, the men’s 200 meters.
The 110 meter hurdles we just wrote about: Garfield Darien smoothly won that race in 13.17 and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, intent on defeating Dmitri Bascou, did not even see it coming.
The 800 meter men’s race was won by by Pierre Ambroise-Bosse, the French NR holder, who cooly came from last at 300 meters, after getting shoved a bit, and hit the 400 meters in 53.09. He did not take the lead until after the 500 meter mark, and then, it was over. Ambroise-Bosse, in his third 800 meters in 72 hours, won in 1:46.07. He put his arms out and slowed the last fifty meters, as he could have run 1:45 in his sleep today.
Jimmy Vicaut, photo by PhotoRun.net
Renaud Lavillenie cleared 5.70 meters and 5.85 meters on his first attempts. He made three attempts at 6 meters. His first, was a run through the pit. His second was a total stall, but his third was close and it should give him confidence.
Rabelais said it, I believe, some people reside in the gutters, while some are looking for the stars. Lavillenie is trying to reach the stars; this guy thinks 6 meters or higher each meet. It is a strength, but in Champs, can be a weakness. He will need to temper in Beijing.
In the 200 meter rounds, Jimmy Vicaut won the first sem final in 20.64, letting up. Jeffrey John was second in 20.82, Pierre Vincent in 21.12 and Eli Mensah Boampong was fourth in 21.38. All four qualified for the final.
In the second 200 meter heat, Christophe Lemaitre came into the turn fine, and let up down the straight, running 20.76 with Aziz Ouhadi (MAR), 21.00, Ben Bassaw, 21.02, and Pierre-alexis Pessonneaux in fourth in 21.22. All four going to the final.
Christophe Lemaitre, photo by PhotoRun.net
So, let us add some drama to this already operatic race. In June, Christophe Lemaitre, he who rarely gets injured, hurt himself during
the warm up on a small 250 meter track in Russia as he prepared for the European Team Championships.
Three weeks of worry, three weeks of recuperation. Under the ever watchful eye of his Coach Pierre Carraz, and old school guy if there ever was one, Lemaitre recuperated.
Last week, on two occasions, Lemaitre ran acceleration drills and they were promising. Hoping for warm weather, but not too warm, Carraz prepared his pupil to double, but, one at a time.
This is where the old school stuff comes in. Coaching is art and science. If you have too much of one, and none of the other, you are screwed. Coach is salesman, preacher, confessor and trainer.
Pierre Carraz, if I could ever understand his damn French, is all of that. His friends tell us that he watches Christophe like a hawk, but gives him enough rope to develop self confidence and have an honest view of his development.
Under other less watchful eyes, Lemaitre would have been squandered. Under Carraz, Christophe Lemaitre knows that, if he takes his time, and is patient, he will be battling for the gold in 2020 and 2024. Time is on his side.
So, Christophe came through the 100 meter unscathed. His 10.07, behind Jimmy Vicaut, was a seasonal best.
His first round in the 200 meters, in 20.76, was not painful, but it did look like it took a bit of effort and reminded the young French sprinter that he must manage his final effort in two hours.
The final, dear friends was a thing of beauty.
Jimmy Vicaut started on the inside of Christophe Lemaitre. As they came off the turn, Lemaitre had a slight lead, but Jimmy Vicaut, again, testing his new found fitness and health, was cautiously pulling up next to Lemaitre.
Jimmy Vicaut looked like he could have gone by Christophe Lemaitre, but Monsieur Lemaitre was not going to let that happen.
At about 150 meters, Christophe Lemaitre let that long stride loose, perfectly timing his finish and moved ahead for good, taking the lead by 180 meters and holding it, winning in 20.28!
Christophe Lemaitre, photo by PhotoRun.net
Jimmy Vicaut was running hard himself and that 9.92 (and 9.86 on July 4), plus four rounds in two days, took something out of him. He tied his personal best of 20.42, taking second.
Vicaut needs 20.38 to be considered for Beijing, per the FFA.
For Lemaitre, the 100m and 200m at the Championnats de France elite were all part of the road to Beijing, where he will be ready.
For Jimmy Vicaut, his 100m and 200m showed that he can run rounds and stay healthy, all important considerations for Beijing.
The French have two star sprinters.
Over the next several weeks, six in fact, we will watch and observe these two champions and see how they will battle the Jamaicans, Americans and few others for the medal stands in Beijing from August 22-August 28.
Au revoir from Lille Metropole!
