European Athletics (EAA) – News – French stars sparkle in Paris, world leads for Obergföll and Hejnova

France’s European champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad enthralled the capacity crowd at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris when he won the men’s 3000m Steeplechase in a person best time of 8:02.09 on Friday. 

He was not the only Frenchman to shine on the night, sprint sensation Christophe Lemaitre finished second behind the mercurial Jamaican Usain Bolt in the men’s 200m clocking a season’s best and European leading time of 20.21.

Another European champion Renaud Lavillenie secured victory in the pole vault with an effort of 5.73 metres.

Mekhissi-Benabbad, who has been seeking the European record of 8:01.18, held his compatriot Bob Tahri, all season came close on Friday evening.

Mekhissi followed the leading Kenyans, reigning world champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Benjamin Kiplagat to the bell before bursting into the lead, and although Kemboi tracked him down the back straight, the taller man made his decisive final surge around the final bend.

Lemaitre on the other hand ran closer to the all-conquering Bolt who was struggling with a flu. The Jamaican still emerged as a comfortable winner clocking 20.03. It was the first time Bolt had finished a 200 metres, excluding heats, in more than 20 seconds since September 2007, when he finished third in Brussels.

Lemaitre took second place in a season’s best of 20.21, with Darvis Patton of the United States third in 20.59.

Renaud Lavillenie’s victory in the pole vault with an effort of 5.73m was secured when his Malte Mohr of Germany failed to clear the height. Jerome Clavier of France took the silver with a season best effort of 5.63m.

Germany’s Christina Obergföll’s world leading throw of 68.01m in the opening round of the javelin throw sealed the title for her however Czech Republic’s Olympic champion Barbara Spotakova was not going to give in easily. She responded immediately with a second round effort that fell just short of the German’s opening flourish – a season’s best of 67.57m.

Russia’s Mariya Abakumova took third place with 65.12.

Spotakova’s compatriot Zuzana Hejnova produced one of the highlights of the evening when she clocked a world leading and national record time of 53.29 to take the women’s 400m hurdles. Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer led the field for most part of the race but Hejnova moved clear in the final meters.

The 24-year-old Czech record holder and 2008 Olympic finalist’s effort bettered the previous best of 53.31 run by the Lashinda Demus of the United States.

Briton Chris Tomlinson regained the British long jump record which had been taken from him by Greg Rutherford, with a third round effort of 8.35m. But the effort was good enough only for a silver as Panama’s former World champion Irving Saladino took the gold with a fifth round clearance of 8.40m. Rutherford came up with his season’s best 8.27m to take the third place.

Germany's Christina Obergfoll produced a world leading throw of 68.01m to take the javelin gold.

Jeremy Wariner, the former Olympic 400m champion, suffered his first defeat in Paris as fellow American Chris Brown came through in the final 20 metres to win in a season’s best of 44.94sec. 

Belgian Jonathan Borlee finished second in 45.05.

Czech Jaroslav Baba and Aleksey Dmitrik of Russia finished on 2.32m with equal failures on count-back to share the top prize in the high jump.

World champion Robert Harting of Germany maintained his unbeaten season’s record with an effort of 67.32m to take the discus gold. Poland’s Piotr Malachowski finishing second on 67.26 and Gerd Kanter of Estonia third with 67.24.

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