A day of preliminary action – French Indoor Champs, Day 1
Saturday 25 February 2006
http://www.iaaf.org/WIC06/news/Kind=2/newsId=33577.html
The first day of French National Indoor Championships in Aubière (Clermont-Ferrand) yesterday (24) was composed of preliminary rounds and served as an interesting introduction for the Saturday and Sunday’s finals.
The favourites Marc Raquil and Eric Milazar (MRI) won their respective 400m heats (48.07 and 47.40), but Brice Panel was the fastest (47.07). 2001 World 400m champion Amy Mbacké-Thiam (SEN) qualified with 54.97 in the women’s competition.
Action in Aubière however revealed the present bad health of the female French high jumping as 1.65m was enough to enter the top-12 and make the final.
Carl Taillepierre led the qualifying rounds for men’s Triple Jump with 16.69m with a half a metre margin over the next best, and doesn’t appear to have any rivals for Saturday’s final (25).
European 60m record holder Ronald Pognon is yet to find his 2005 form but still may not find too much opposition to defend his 60m title.
Mounir Yemmouni (men’s 1500m) and Romain Mesnil (men’s Pole Vault) will both face ambitious and talented opponents at these Nationals are the last selection chance for the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships held in Moscow, Russia (10-12 March).
Eunice Barber, who is currently suffering from a twisted ankle, is the only athlete to have an official exemption from competing at these championships and will decide after Liévin meeting (3 March) if she will Long Jump in Moscow.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF