European Athletics (EAA) – News – Lemaitre 100m in 9.96, world leads for Lavillenie and Tamgho

France’s 2010 European Athlete of the Year Christophe Lemaitre ran a 100m national record of 9.96, the first time a European runner has gone under the 10-second barrier this season, at a meeting in Montreuil on Tuesday.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was that fast. Maybe 9.97, 9.98. Anything under 10 seconds at this time of year is very encouraging,” said Lemaitre, who turns 21 on Saturday.

Lemaitre's form provides a major boost to the French team ahead of the Stockholm 2011 SPAR European Team Championships set for 18-19 June.

He now moves up to third place on the European all-time list despite finishing second in Montreuil behind the new Jamaican phenomenon Yohan Blake, who won in 9.95.

Lemaitre’s previous best and former national record 9.97 was run in the Italian town of Rieti last August.

Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu, the European record holder with 9.86 that he ran to get the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, and Great Britain’s Linford Christie, the former record holder with 9.87, are the only men ahead of Lemaitre in continental sprinting.

"Strangely, I felt worse here than in Rome (on 26 May when he ran 10.00), where I had a great start,” added Lemaitre.

“At least I managed to get into my rhythm at the end of the race, not like in Rome. Actually, I’m not chasing times. If I win, then the times will follow. This shows that I exist, it marks my territory in the world of sprinting, and I’m now part of the world hierarchy.”

“My time is going down again but I have room for improvement. However, I have no idea how fast I can go. Pierrot (Pierre Carraz, his coach) neither. He predicted I’d run 9.92 in Rome but I did not do the right things; 9.90 is possible, that would be good even if it is still far from being the best (in the world),” reflected Lemaitre modestly.

It was a big day for other French athletes in Montreuil.

Pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie cleared 5.83m at the first time of asking before failing three times at 5.88m, achieving the best performance in the world this year.

"This performance is something very good. I had a very good competition. I didn’t want to wait until July to start jumping high. It sets the tempo of the season. My next competition is New York (the Samsung Diamond League meeting on Saturday), there will be four French and the Americans and (Germany’s Malte) Mohr,” said Lavillenie.

“My performance will depend on weather conditions. Tonight we did not have anything to complain about. In a month, I will have more juice; I am far from being in great shape. At 5.88m, I began to tire but it is normal with the sessions I am doing. In a month, it will be better,” added the 2010 European Athletics Championships and 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships gold medallist.

Triple jump star Teddy Tamgho leapt out to 17.67m, which was also the best mark in the world this year.

“My season started in earnest here. This is a good mark but there are still a few things to be resolved. I don’t feel fresh but I’m much stronger than last year,” commented Tamgho, who broke or equalled the world indoor record three times during the winter, including twice at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in March.

The performances of the French trio on Tuesday mark out France as a team to watch out for at the SPAR European Team Championships.

France finished fourth in both 2009 and 2010 but is aiming for a place on the podium this year in the Swedish capital.

European Athletics (EAA) – News –