Robles unhappy with 13.26 despite torrential rain in Paris
Monday 18 June 2007
Paris, France – The second stop of the five meetings forming the new French professional circuit of meeting “Lagardère Athlé Tour 2007” was held in “Jean Bouin” stadium in Paris on Sunday (18) in extremely wet weather conditions.
Robles - “I’m ready for anyone”
Cuban prodigy Dayron Robles was the main attraction of the afternoon, as he concluded his French tour with a clear victory at 110m Hurdles in 13.26 seconds, after having won in Villeneuve d’Ascq (13.27) and Noisy-le-Grand (13.42) during the past ten days.
Unchallenged by his teammate Yoel Hernandez, Robles wasn’t happy with his time despite running in the rain: “That’s not so good. That’s much better than Noisy where I stumbled at the 4th hurdle, I was very hungry and wanted to do something today”, said Robles. He didn’t make major mistakes in Paris, though his rhythm wasn’t disturbed evenly with the 3rd hurdle wobbling slightly and the 10th falling over.
“I did a clean race but didn’t push my effort after the last hurdle. I don’t care about the weather, I’m prepared to run under any conditions, I’m ready.”
“I’m going now to Madrid for a training camp to prepare Ostrava, the rest of the competition programme is still under construction with my coach. But I’m definitively ready to compete against anyone,” said the 20-years-old Robles.
Barber preparing event by event for Osaka
Eunice Barber is not yet ready and is using one-day meetings in order to work on the different aspects of the Heptathlon, and she won’t compete at a Combined Event before the Osaka World Championships, where she will try to get back the title she won in 1999, after two silver medals in 2003 and 2005.
An early season debut in USA at 100m Hurdles (13.57) was disrupted by right leg pains (lateral fascia). Barber arrived in France in June, where she lined-up in Villeneuve d’Ascq and Noisy-le-Grand at 200m (24.23 and 24.17, respectively).
Yesterday in Paris, she placed 5th in 24.36 with weather elements and fatigue against her.
“Two days ago, I did a big workout with 300m races so obviously I wasn’t fresh today. I tried to have a cautious start and do a relaxed and rhythmic race, I liked the way I ran the last part of the race. I’m going to continue the work over 300s in order to lower my 200m performances,” confirmed Barber.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t take part to the Shot Put competition as the surface was too slippery. In Noisy, she broke the 14m barrier for the first time of her career with a fine series (13m67 / 14m12 / 13m28 / 13m98 / X / X).
“I throw over 14m every time at training so it’s very good to do it at last in competition”, revealed the French athlete. “I managed to throw with relaxation.”
Barber’s competition programme is not definite yet, but she added with a big smile “I’m now going to start my specific preparation toward hurdles and long jump, so it’s going to be nice!”
Hurtis opens well
The winner of the 200m was Muriel Hurtis-Houairi, former World Indoor and European Champion, who opened her season with 22.96. The 28-year-old gave birth to son Leyan on March 2005 and since then has struggled to find her best level with a 2006 season best at 23.26. She was forced to cancel her debut a week ago due to a slight hamstring pain.
“I’m satisfied with my season debut because the past two weeks have been very difficult,” confirmed Hurtis. “I knew I was in good shape from my training times but I was afraid to run and get injured. Since Thursday, it’s better because I told myself to let it go and run without thinking to my thigh. Today i was not cold but the rain really disturbed so in my mind that’s one of my best season start ever.”
Indeed, she opened her 2002 season with 22.96, 2003 with 22.89 and 2004 with 22.83. Her Paris time was her fastest since August 2004.
Diniz dominates
European 50km Race Walk champion Yohann Diniz competed at 5000m for the third time of the year (after 18:50.51 during Interclubs and 18:50.27 in Villeuneuve d’Ascq), and lowered his own national best to 18:35.54. Tunisian Ghoula Hatem, who set the World best (18:05.49) ten years ago, was second in 18:45.05 but was left from the start by Diniz who covered the 12.5 laps unchallenged.
Raquil – Djhone – Keita but Talkmore takes the 400m win
Men’s 400m saw three of the four French 4x400m World and European Champion (2003 and 2005) Marc Raquil, Leslie Djhone and Naman Keita, for the first time altogether in the same individual race. The race was won by Zimbabwe’s Talkmore Nyongani in 45.61 but the attention was on 2006 European Champion Marc Raquil’s season debut. After a coach change and calf injury, he couldn’t run faster than 48.06. Leslie Djhone, although deceived by his 46.02, won the French “trials” for the European Cup in Munich, while 400m hurdles specialist Naman Keita was 4th in 46.24 (new season best).
Other notable results included Josephine Onyia’s 12.92 in the 100m Hurdles. “I’m happy with my race because I managed to have a better start than Olso two days ago. I came back to Norway last night so I’m a little bit tired”, said the former Nigerian now representing Spain. French Martial Mbandjock ran 10.31 in 100m heats before the storm got the sprinters and won the final in 10.51 against 1.8 wind.
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
