Athlétisme - GDF SUEZ - Meeting 2008

Roblès in a World of his Own, Doucouré Reassured

Dayron Roblès stormed into the Paris Saint-Denis meet, missing his world record in the 110 m hurdles by just one-hundredth of a second (12''88).  In the same race, Ladji Doucouré turned in his best time of the season (13''37).

THE FRENCH ATHLETES

Of all the French athletes aiming for Olympic qualifying times, only Elodie Guégan walked away from the Stade de France with a ticket to Beijing on Friday.  Caught in the wake left by Kenya's impressive Pamela Jelimo, the young Frenchwoman by far outdid her personal best in the 800 m, finishing in 1'58''93.  "I knew it was going to be fast, but I wasn't expecting to run in 1'58''," she said surprised.  "I wanted to prove that I could keep up with the best.  I am so happy.  It was the race I needed, even though it was very tough between 400 and 600 meters.  I ran the race of my life."

All her countrymen looking to steal the day came up short.  In the 100 m hurdles, Samuel Coco-Viloin failed to ride out Dayron Roblès's wake and finished 20-hundredths from the required time (13''63) in a race where Ladji Doucouré managed his best performance of the season (13''37).  "I can't say I'm satisfied, but I've improved from my last races," said the 2005 world champion who finished fourth.  "I got off well.  Running behind Roblès throws your rhythm off and is disorienting.  I'm going to work on quickness now, which I haven't been doing until now."  While Martial Mbandkock, second in the 100 m in 10''17 only missed the qualifying time by four hundredths of a second, Fadil Bellaabouss (400 m hurdles), Katefien Gomis (long-jump), or Reina-Flor Okori (100m hurdles) were far from the mark.

Those athletes who were pre-selected based on their 2007 results didn't turn many heads either.  On the pole vault, Romain Mesnil turned in the second null of the evening after Castres missed his first three attempts at 5,40m.  Jérôme Clavier then found himself in the leader's clothes as he took third place with a leap at 5.60 m on his last attempt.  In the 200m, Muriel Hurtis hung tough until the turn and came apart in the straight away to finish with a disappointing 22''76, far behind winner Sanya Richards (22''56).  More worrisome was Leslie Djhone, who had high hopes for Paris.  He walked away with a fifth place finish with a less than stellar 45''43.  All these athletes will meet next week in the French Championships in Albi.  That will be their last chance to impress before the Olympic Games…


OTHER EVENING HIGHLIGHTS

With the American maestros present, the Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis meet was for many gold medal contenders the ultimate test leading into what promises to be a highly contested Olympic Games.  These included Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt.  These two specialists of the one-lap have been battling it out throughout the season and lit up the Parisian tracks with fine performances.  The advantage went to number 1 Wariner, who exacted revenge for his defeat in the US Trials and crossed the line in 43''86.  It was the world's best performance this summer and earned Wariner the meet record to boot.

As for Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson, they met in the 400m hurdles for a dual with no clear favorite.  Victory, however, was taken by the world champion in the event, Clement, who won in 48''33, edging out Jamaica's Danny McFarlane and Angelo Taylor.  2005 world champion Jackson had to settle for fourth with a time of 48''92.

Dayron Roblès also made his routine contribution.  The Cuban has not cut back on his appearances this year and proved to his rivals that he was a force to be reckoned with.  He finished the 110m hurdles in 12'88, just one hundredth of a second off his world record mark.  American Terrence Trammell, co-champion in the Sydney and Athens games, was powerless to stop the Cuban bullet and came in second 31 hundredths later.

The ladies also put on some fine displays. Youngster Pamela Jelimo, who is still in the running to take the Grand Slam on the European circuit, confirmed her up-and-coming status in the 800 m.  She was all on her own out front en route to winning her fourth race in as many meets.  With a time of 1'54''97, she set the meet record, a new African record, and a new junior record.  Blanka Vlasic came in to wrap the party up.  The Croat has been heads above the rest this season.  She managed a 2.01m leap, some consolation for missing at 2.05.  Vlasic is another athlete still in the race for the jackpot.