New golden evening at the Perche en Or in Tourcoing! American Chris Nilsen broke a new United States indoor record by rising to 6.02m, while Renaud Lavillenie made a perfect comeback in 2022 with 5.81m. Among the women, the Belarusian Iryna Zhuk took the best world performance of the year, culminating at 4.77 m.
The second edition of the Perche en Or has kept its promises and has a very aptly named this Saturday. After the unforgettable 6.02 m by Renaud Lavillenie during the first opus, the northern meeting made its return to high altitude with the 6.02 m of the American Chris Nilsen which improves by one centimeter the United States record which had been the property of Sam Kendricks since February 8, 2020 in Rouen. The Tokyo Olympic vice-champion returned an incredible “clean sheet”. Six jumps on the first attempt (5.54 m, 5.64 m, 5.74 m, 5.92 m, 5.97 m and 6.02 m) which prove that he has a great temperament. The 24-year-old pole vaulter therefore logically imposed himself by signing the second world performance of the winter, a small centimeter behind the 6.03 m of the Swede Armand Duplantis.
💯 Huge Christopher Nilsen!
🤩 He offers himself a 100 % at the Golden Pole! USA record indoors, a faultless performance and the best performance of the meeting equaled with a bar at 6.02m!
📺 Follow him #CreditMutuelAthléTour in REPLAY south https://t.co/63xdTVLhtA et https://t.co/3hOZH6HW10 pic.twitter.com/Vqqb9oP3Wj
– FFAthlétisme (@FFAthlétisme) February 5, 2022
To those who wondered in what form was Renaud Lavillenie for her first contest since August 3 and the final of the Tokyo Olympics, her performance tonight was enough to sweep away the doubts: As soon as he passed the bar at 5.81m on his second attempt, the triple indoor world champion (2012, 2016 and 2018), who had not yet touched the ground, had already clenched his fists in the air, success sign. In trouble with his ankle for many months, Renaud Lavillenie is made of a unique metal, that of the great champions, and has managed to find the mental resources necessary to pass 5.81 m. What’s more on reduced momentum (16 strides instead of 20). A mark synonymous with the 163rd competition at 5.80m or more in his career.
« I struggled since the start of the recovery »
🇬🇧 Renaud Lavillenie best French!
💥 For his comeback, the Frenchman offers himself a 2nd place with a bar at 5.81m and signs the best performance among the Blues tonight!
📺 Follow him #CreditMutuelAthléTour LIVE on https://t.co/63xdTVLhtA et https://t.co/hGhwCKBBll ! pic.twitter.com/c9EnG22kiW
– FFAthlétisme (@FFAthlétisme) February 5, 2022
To the sound of the piece “Levels” by Avicii, a request made by the protege of Philippe d’Encausse to accompany his attempts at 5.92 m, he did not manage to cross the bar, appearing somewhat blunt. « The physique is not sharpened as I would like. I struggled since the start of the recovery, I couldn’t even run in November so project myself on competitions, when you can’t jog, it’s quite complicated, due in particular to the big trauma that I have had this summer at the ankle. I managed to learn from my past mistakes and to be patient, which is clearly not my first quality. With age, you become a little wiser and a priori, it worked well. I take “handjobs” in training, I can barely pass 5.50 m and on Tuesday I managed to have the little click by finding more commitment “. The minima for the Indoor Worlds in Belgrade (March 18 to 20) set at 5.81m were beyond doubt. It was obvious, almost a formality, that the French record holder (6.16 m in 2014) nevertheless had to validate. Mission accomplished ! The tricolor pole benders Ethan Cormont et Alioune Sene also offered spectators a memorable evening by taming 5.74 m, a height which constitutes a new reference for the second named. Thibaut Collet et Baptist Thiery both broke their indoor personal bests to 5.64m.
⚡️ Iryna Zhuk wins in Tourcoing!
💥 Zhuk shone, offering the national record and the best world performance of the year with a bar at 4.77m!
📺 Follow him #CreditMutuelAthléTour in REPLAY south https://t.co/63xdTVLhtA et https://t.co/3hOZH6HW10 ! pic.twitter.com/VdPuoqXDrI
– FFAthlétisme (@FFAthlétisme) February 5, 2022
In the Léo-Lagrange complex in Tourcoing, Belarusian Iryna Zhuk won a prestigious victory by improving by two centimeters the best world performance of the year with 4.77 m, held until Saturday by the American Sandi Morris. « I was completely loose during my jump and that’s exactly what it takes to go high “, she explains, very moved. Great performance too Margot Chevrier who crossed a record bar at 4.54 m. Finally, Ninon Chapel et Elina Giallurachis confirmed their progress with 4.44 m.
🔥 Margot Chevrier flies away!
🙌 Magnificent jump from the Frenchwoman who clears a bar at 4.54m and signs the best French performance of the season at the Perche en Or!
📺 Follow him #CreditMutuelAthléTour LIVE on https://t.co/63xdTVLhtA et https://t.co/hGhwCKBBll ! pic.twitter.com/sBcT833P7g
– FFAthlétisme (@FFAthlétisme) February 5, 2022
Photo credit: Ryan Allek / STADION
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