The meeting in Paris, the penultimate stage of the World Indoor Tour before the World Championships in Belgrade, in three weeks, was marked by the victory of Chris Nilsen in the pole vault. The American had, less than 24 hours before, set the United States record at 6.05m in Rouen, and he still found the resources to propel himself to 5.88m.
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He even attempted 6 meters in front of an impressed audience. “I’m super tired. Yesterday (Saturday), I was very good, I came to Paris at night, slept for a few hours and tried to do my best today. I wanted to continue on my contest streak over 5.80, this is my 16th in a row. It’s the first time I’ve done two competitions in two days, and now that I’ve had this experience I’ll never do it again, I’m very tired! »
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Valentin Lavillenie, also author of a very good Norman competition (5.81 m), finished 3rd with 5.76 m, even offering himself a dead end at 5.82 m to take reference points at 5.88 m “for the rest of the winter, the year, the career”, he joked afterwards.
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Belgrad? Cautious PML, Pontvianne is getting closer, Mayer will not be there
Another Frenchman has set a date for the Indoor Worlds in Belgrade (March 18-20), without however having the minimums in his pocket. Jean-Marc Pontvianne, in difficulty all winter with many bitten jumps, validated on his first attempt a jump to 17.08 m. A performance two centimeters from the minimum required by the FFA but which places him in 3rd place in the world, which could favor a selection.
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The France team, on the other hand, lost one of its best chances of medals with the package of Kevin Mayer. The combinard, reigning world champion, announced before the start of the meeting that he was giving up the Indoor Worlds. Suffering from tendonitis in his right Achilles tendon for some time until limping between jumps during his pole vault competition in Rouen on Saturday, Mayer preferred to take no risks to focus on the World Championships in Eugene (July 15-24).
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Another Blue in trouble, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, forfeited for the 60m hurdles final after a series won in 7″68. The hurdler felt a tension in the left calf on an impulse, warming up for the final. “Nothing serious, but he does not want to take any risks for Belgrade”, explained his agent. Wilhem Belocian, reigning European champion, won with 7″53, proof of good chronometric regularity, and hopeful Just Kwaou-Mathey took his record to 7″64 (3rd).
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Among the women, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, absent from the French Championships due to illness, showed that she was in good shape with two good times (7″94 in the 60m hurdles series, 7″92 in the final) and a victory which consolidates it before the Worlds.
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