The Filipino Ernest Obiena and the Slovenian Tina Sutej won the “Perche en Or” contest held on Saturday evening at the indoor velodrome in Roubaix, the Stab. The big stars of the world pole vault did not participate in this 3rd edition of this French circuit. But the public witnessed a real sporting spectacle, with performances of a good standard.
For its 3rd edition, Perche en Or (in the North?) changed location. The first two were held in Tourcoing. But the Léo-Lagrange sports complex is in the middle of work. Like the TLM volley, this national circuit has fallen back on the covered velodrome of Roubaix, the Stab, which would like to perpetuate the event. Like Mathieu Colletthe athletes welcomed this change.
“As it’s a velodrome, we were afraid that it would be a bit cold, that the public would be far away, that we wouldn’t hear people too much”, thus confided the Grenoble. “But it’s amazing. The fervor here is phenomenal. Besides, the weather was great. »
An open competition without the stars
Indeed, the public warmed the room well, even if we hoped for more people. This 3rd edition, it is true, lacked big names. The last three Olympic champions as well, Renaud Lavillenie (London 2012), Thiago Braz (Rio 2016) and Armand Duplantis (Toyo 2020) were not there. No more than the American Chris Nilsen, winner last year, nor his compatriot Sam Kendricks or the Polish Piotr Lisek.
This therefore gave rise to an open competition, with the Filipino Ernest Obiena as a favourite. 3rd at the last World Cup in Eugene, Obiena justified his rank. He wins the competition by passing 5m82 on the first try. Before failing three times at 5m90. The surprising Chinese Yao Jie tried in vain to beat his national record at 5m82. But he nevertheless takes 2nd place in the competition with 5m75.
The French presence in Roubaix
The two Asians precede the French clan who managed a group shot, despite the absence of Renaud Lavillenie, which does not make the indoor season. And the poor form on this competition of his brother Valentin, as well as of Thibaut Collet.
Robin Emig (Gap Hautes Alpes Athlétisme) finished 4th with a successful jump at 5m65, just like Mathieu Collet 5th (ASPTT Grenoble), and the young Ethan Cormont (ASA Maisons-Alfort) 3rd. The tricolors have thrilled their audience, even if the season is just beginning for them. An important pre-Olympic season one year from Paris 2024.
If the domination was Asian in the men, the Europeans dominated the women’s competition. The spectators thus witnessed a great three-way fight for the final victory.
The Murto-Sutej duel for women
The young Finnish Elina Lampela gives up the first at 4m65 and finishes 3rd with a jump at 4m55. His compatriot Wilma Murtoreigning European champion, and the Slovenian Tina Sutej pass 4m70 on the 3rd try. The Finn misses out at 5m75 where Sutej fails three times.
It will also be a triple failure for Murto at 4m80. The two young women are decided on the number of attempts and finally, the Slovenian wins with 9 jumps against 11 for the Finn.
Just behind comes Marie-Julie Bonnin (Stade Bordelais Athlétisme), 4th with a successful 2nd attempt at 4m55. The young Bordelaise is the best French. The two “old” Ninon Chapelback from maternity, and Margot Chevrier are indeed ranked 7th ex-aequo with 4m30. A successful height also by the Marseillaise Ellina Giallurasis (9th), and Lille Alix Dehaynin (10th), who would compete at home.
In this women’s competition, the British Sophie Cook broke his pole by jumping to 4m45. Fortunately, she fell well and did not hurt herself. But shocked, she preferred to give up. This incident reminds us that pole vaulting is a risky discipline.
See you in Liévin with Duplantis
After Roubaix, the 3rd stage of the Perche en Or circuit will take place on February 28 in Clermont-Ferrand, the stronghold of the Lavillenie brothers. Renaud will not participate.
Some of the athletes present at the Stab de Roubaix will certainly find themselves February 15 at the Hauts-de-France/Pas-de-Calais meeting at the Arena de Liévin. This is what is hoped in particular Mathieu Collet and the other French pole vaulters. They will be able to find there the best world specialists whose phenomenon ” Mondo » Duplantis.
The Stab de Roubaix will host the 4th edition of Perche en Or in 2024 as well. The Léo Lagrange complex will indeed still be under construction. But the regional indoor velodrome team hopes to keep the event in its room, which is more suited to the pole vault competition than the somewhat cramped Pierre Dumortier room.
