Thanks to Violette Bray, EPA 86 and Vienne brought back a gold medal from these French athletics championships. Engaged in the triple jump of the cadet and junior competition which took place in Lyon, the Poitevine, thanks to a jump of 12.30 m, climbed to the top step of the podium. “I’m proud of my performance and I’m happy, confides the new junior champion of France. I was hoping to win but I wasn’t sure either. It’s a great satisfaction. » It must be said that the young girl trains on Monday at pole vault, on Wednesday at hurdles and the rest of the time, she does gymnastics. Difficult to find time for the triple jump.
” We did not expect that, admits Toarii Zahn, his trainer. The objective was to achieve a performance above 12m and for once, I did not expect her to be champion! I saw her on the podium yes, but not champion. It’s a great satisfaction. I am very surprised because she has had little training in this discipline and she broke her personal record by 35 cm. » And at the same time set a new departmental record by exceeding the 12.24 m of Léa Baroan in Nantes in 2016.
In the 60m, Violette Bray finished 4e of his semi-final with a time of 8”90. Without regret since he would not have allowed him to qualify in the other half either. Also engaged in the 4×1 tour with her teammates Orlanne Clouet, Maelys Adjevi Neglokpe and Mathilde Prévost, they finished 2e of their series. The time, 1’47”43, was insufficient to go to the final.
Lucas Blanzac-Joly on the 60m hurdles podium
Another Viennese athlete engaged in the Rhône, youngest Lucas Blanzac-Joly improved his personal best in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7”91 and although he finished in 4e place, he is bronze medalist of the championship of France since one of the competitors in front of him is Spanish. “I was happy because I wanted to make a podium, confides the young man who improves at the same time his departmental record. It’s not the best medal but I’m still proud and my friends are proud of me too. I couldn’t beat my personal best and I finally made it. I would have liked to do better but I’m still happy with my performance. Now I will focus on the summer races and the 110m hurdles and the 100m, if the schedules allow me to combine the two. »
“He did the right thing, at the right time, despite the stress, adds Jérôme Thomat, his trainer. This was a challenge for him. He was in the running for the world’s best performer of the year among the cadets. It ranks at least among the top 15 Europeans, it’s interesting. He will find them this summer and he will have to try to do better, as they will try to do. »
As for Eyram Blagogée, among the juniors, she finished in 12e place in the triple jump final with a best attempt at 11.23m, far from the 11.74m achieved on February 5 in Nantes.
Alexine Larriu in bronze in Salon-de-Provence
As for the throws in Salon-de-Provence, the task was going to be complicated for Axelle Jousseaume, Chiara Senegas-Kouamba and Sibylle Retour. The latter gets the 7e place in the French senior championship and a 3e honorary place in the masters with a discus throw at 46.62 m (no medal is awarded in this category). Still on the discus, but among the juniors, Chiara Senegas-Kouamba finishes 10e (35.25m). Committed to the female hopes hammer, Axelle Jousseaume did not participate in the competition.
As for Alexine Larrieu, who left the EPA 86 for Mérignac after moving to Bordeaux for her studies, she was aiming for the podium of the hopeful record. With a throw of 46.46 m (a new personal best), she won the bronze medal and placed herself on the podium for the seventh time in these winter championships (five silver medals, three bronze). By weight, the Poitevine is content with 7e place.
