He just looks real wierd to me. He reminds me of Michael Cera, Nerdy white dude from ‘Youth in Revolt’ when he runs. its like he is really concentrating on having good form. His start sucks, no explosion. Maybe its cause he has long limbs that makes his style look off
Valence, France – Christophe Lemaitre broke the national 100m record today (9) with 9.98sec during the French Championships which are being held this week in Valence.
It was only a matter of time before the tall (1.89m, 80kg) sprinter broke the 10sec barrier, as he had lowered the European Junior record in 2009 to 10.04, and had run under 10.10 on no less than five occasions this season.
On a warm (32°) and windy afternoon in Valence, a feat was keenly anticipated on the occasion of the final. The previous day, the 20-year-old had been the fastest in heats (10.15, stopping his full effort with 10m to go) and in semi final (10.05 with a below-par start). But “my coach Pierre Carraz had told me to run all through and I’m disappointed about the time,” he said after the semi final.
Today, in final, he made another obvious bid to break the national record (9.99) held by Ronald Pognon since 2005.
Lemaitre, in lane 4, had a modest reaction time (0.181) but produced a irresistible acceleration from 30m to leave behind Pognon, in lane 6. Martial Mbandjock, the outsider, was one metre behind Lemaitre and maintained the gap without being able to catch him. Attention in the stadium naturally immediately switched to the clock, which indicated 9.99, corrected a few seconds later to 9.98. The anemometer showed 1.3m/s, which validated a new French record.
From among the crowd that was celebrating the feat coach Carraz was tried to describe the race of his pupil: “I didn’t see much of the race. What I can say is that I feel that he didn’t run with even rhythm. In Valence, he was not running as well as he was running earlier in the season. He is opening his stride too much in front and his hips are in a sitting position, which I don’t like to see. Maybe it is due to the fact that he missed the 10sec barrier at several occasions.”
Christophe Lemaitre looked more relieved than happy to break the mythical barrier. “This was my goal to break it of course. One has to run under 10sec in order to be part of the world’s best. I will be recognised as the first white man to run it, but today is mainly historical for myself!”
“It was a long term goal, but today the conditions were good and I had the best oponents possible to push me in Martial and Ronald. The only fear I had was about the wind.”
Indeed, the previous race, won by Véronique Mang in 11.16, had +3.2m/s.
Martial Mbandjock, second in 10.08, had his first words for the winner: “I have to congratulate Christophe. This day will long be remembered as the fastest French 100m ever. We all have a contribution in this record in pushing Christophe to do it.”
Ronald Pognon, third in 10.34, who lost his national mark, was also full of admiration, “records are made to be broken, I’m happy for him as he is a very talented athlete and has a lot more in him for the future.”
“Now, I have a three-numbers personal best, and I can have high ambitions for the European Championships in Barcelona,” said Lemaitre.
His 9.98 is the fastest time in Europe this year, 0.01 better than Dwain Chambers in his winning time during the European Team Championships in Bergen last month.
“But in Barcelona, the favourite will be Chambers, he has the experience as an advantage”, predicted Carraz. “However, Christophe puts no barrier in his head, he his fresh and young, and doesn’t think too much, so everything is always possible in his mind, that’s why he runs so fast.”
“Today, I have the title and the record, now I have to get qualify at 200m in order to target two medals in Barcelona, at 100m and 200m, and also the relay 4x100m,” explained Lemaitre, before joining the track again to run the first round of the 200m, where he won the first heat in very relaxed 20.96 (+3.1).
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
You see… this is what happens when you tell a skinny, white, dork there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out. He uses his “nerd-strength” to run a sub10.
just kidding… congrats to the kid and I hope he keeps on improving.
Well as a rule of thumb, if you’re tall and skinny and still run incredibly fast your technique can’t be that bad.
He’s making large strides but isn’t overstriding: The knee of his swing leg is already in front of his trunk at touchdown, which is one of the most important characteristics of proper sprinting.
Maybe hip height could be improved, but by far the most improvement will come from getting bigger and stronger.
He is doing what Asapha was last season, if he was riding a horse it would be called, falling out of the saddle.
The kid was definately on the pathway to breaking the sub 10 barrier and is still learning his trade. The best skill he may have is an ability to not put limits or barriers in his mind (let the body produce a time…no matter what it is. Therefore sub 10 is just a time not a limit/barrier).
The mind plays many games on a gifted athlete, black or white.
Technical aspects. What is he doing that others may not be? I might be wrong but is there a difference in right v left leg patterning?
Wow, congradulations to him.
Massive stride length. Does anyone know anything about his training?
Take it with a pinch of salt man. No offense was mean’t to be implied, just run of the mill humour. I’m white myself.
Just wanted to show some love for a fellow caucasian.
If you have red hair you get called “blue”, big nose “honkers”, big ears “Cadillac”.
Get over it. I am white I think.
Yeah! And if you have ginger hair your a carrot top…
Indeed who cares as I’m certain harm wasn’t intended. This is great for everyone, whitey’s and Darky’s a like. 
Well done!
Carrot tops are green man!
J/K
e.
Congratulations to all involved with the new French recordholder.
We should appreciate the insights offered - on bold thanks to Stikki - compiled in the following quoted report written by board member Pierre-Jean Vazel, himself one of the coaches of Ronald Pognon, the now former French 100m recordholder at 9.99sec! Thanks PJ for your outstaning reportage. Kk from my iPhone.
- to my friends on the CF board I apologised for not updating the news, race results and pix sections this past week but I am on vacation for yet another week and have only the iPhone to work on. And while it is convenient, the iPhone screen is minute and editing the forumbusingbthe iPhone is difficult. It is great however to see so many others posting in the news. Keep it upbplease. Later… KK
Someone asked about his training…if you look on you tube he has an account with lots of his training footage even cone runs (sticks) for 100m rhythem…slow mo of runs, block starts etc. This is a great SlowMo of his heat:
Man, there putting out some dodgy ass music for these video’s…
I think his right heel recovery is better that his left. ? right left dominance ? more flexible right hips/quads
It was close as the European Team champs 9.99to 10.02, Chambers win
Forget the Euro champs…(for now) This Friday in Paris is what its all about!! Diamond League baby!!
Bolt vs Powell vs Bailey vs Blake vs Lemaitre…if only Chambers could have been invited…!!
What’s irritating is that Dwain Chambers serves his ban and ‘does his time’ and thus satisfies the laws of the sport. Yet he is banned from competing.
However, Bulgarian athlete Vania Stambolova, the 2006 European 400m and a 49 sec 400m runner, was caught doping. However, she is now back from her ban and competing in the diamond league.
I agree it would have been good to see Dwain competing.