Christophe Lemaitre, photo by PhotoRun.net
Lemaitre to double, Mayer in 4 events
MARSEILLE (FRA): The men’s pole vault takes top billing at the French national championships this weekend. World record-holder Renaud Lavillenie is assured his selection as Diamond League champion as he takes on Kevin Menaldo (5.83m this year) and brother Valentin Lavillenie. All three – plus missing European Under-23 representative Axel Chapelle – have the standard. British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson guests in the 200m. Olympic silver medallist Kevin Mayer will line up to start the decathlon and after 100 m will also compete in shot put, discus and pole vault. Jimmy Vicaut is missing through injury but has the standard in the 100m. Former European champion Christophe Lemaitre still needs the qualifying standard of 10.10 in the 100m but is also lined up in the 200m, for which he has the mark. Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, who also has the 1500m standard and is entered for that too, and Yoann Kowal fight out the steeplechase. Despite the absence from the 110m hurdles of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Dimitri Bascou and Wilhem Belocian – quality will be high thanks to Garfield Darien and Aurel Manga. Mamadou Kasse Hann, with 48.40 this season, is the standout in the longer hurdles. Eloyse Lessueur doubles up in the long and triple jump, but is chasing the standards in both. Jean-Marc Pontianne (17.13m) heads the men’s triple as Benjamin Compaore seeks the qualifying mark. Pierre Ambroise-Bosse is a non starter due to injury. The 5000 m walks, though not selection events, are strong with Kevin Campion and Australian Dane Bird-Smith headlining, although selected Yohann Diniz sits this one out. Swede Lisa Gunnarsson (4.55m) guests in the pole vault as Ninon Guilon-Romarin is missing for the European Under-23s. Melina Robert-Michon looks for a seventh consecutive title in the discus.
