Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint Denis: Make way for the duels

Athletics should get back to its true roots on Friday evening, on the Stade de France track. “A sport where the confrontation, the duels and the battle for victory have the upper hand in the race against the clock”,summed up Gérard Rousselle, Event Director, at the press conference on Tuesday morning. The tone is set: this new edition of the Meeting Gaz de France, the second stage of the Golden League, in the spirit of a top Olympic sport, will be a real show stopper in terms of the confrontation between athletes.

Everywhere, in the races and competitions alike, the emphasis is placed by the organisers on rivalry; the struggle of man against man and woman against woman. Mehdi Baala against Bernard Lagat in the 1500 m. Naman Keita against the young American go-getters in the 400 m hurdles. Ladji Doucouré against Liu Xiang and Dayron Robles in the 110 m hurdles. Bouabdellah Tahri against the Kenyan armada in the 3000 m steeplechase. Christian Olsson against Phillips Idowu in the triple jump. Christine Arron and Muriel Hurtis against Allyson Felix and Lauryn Williams in the 100 m. Adrianna Lamalle against Susanna Kallur, Michelle Perry and Virginia Powell in the 100 m hurdles. Kajsa Bergqvist against Tia Hellebaut, Yelena Slesarenko and Blanka Vlasic in the high jump…

And all around, the Meeting Gaz de France has provided the top French athletes with the opportunity to face the world’s elite. “With the exception of the men’s 3000 m, at least one French athlete will be present at each event”, says a pleased Gérard Rousselle. Leslie Djhone, for example, fully intends to make the most of the occasion to achieve his minima for Osaka. Vanessa Boslak will also be keen to score highly in the wake of the Russian athlete Yelena Isinbaeva, world record woman in the pole vault.
With three days to go to the event, the organisers benefited from this press conference to make a couple of announcements, one good and one bad. The good news: the presence of Muriel Hurtis at the start of the 100 m after being credited with an excellent time on Monday night of 22’’50 in the 200 m. The bad news: the withdrawal, after several days of speculation, of Jamaican athlete Asafa Powell. The world record man in the 100 m has been suffering from a thigh injury since the Jamaican selections. Remaining prudent, he prefers to withdraw.

Quotes

Sanya Richards: “I’m expecting great things from this race here in Paris. My legs are better and I want to win. The time is not yet a priority, that will come later. My first aim is to win. And here in Paris I have an extra motivation; the presence of Marie-José Perec. I know she’ll be there. She’s a great athlete whom I have a massive amount of respect for. I really wanted to meet her.
I intend to give my all at Osaka in the 200 m. And I hope to bring home a medal. However, I am very disappointed with my performance in the championships in the United States and I am sad not to have qualified for the 400 m.”

Lui Xiang: “In Paris, I always feel really good. It’s the sixth time I’ve come to France so it’s become a habit now. I haven’t really thought about this race though. I just want to get the best result possible and improve on my technique.
I consider Ladji Doucouré to be my biggest threat. I think he has the same potential as me.
I’d like to set an example to Chinese athletes. Today, we know that it is possible to be Chinese and the best hurdler in the world. In the past it was impossible even to think like that but with effort, anything is possible.”

Leslie Djhone: “The Meeting Gaz de France is a big thing. It’s a difficult race for the start of the season. However, this is where I’d like to achieve my minima for Osaka. This kind of confrontation gives you the incentive to run. It’s an excellent rehearsal prior to the world championships.
Even though I’m a bit behind in my training due to a few little injuries, I feel really good. The world championships are late in the season so we still have time to work on our performance. We’ll all be ready.”

Christine Arron: “It’s really good for French sprinting that Muriel is participating in the 100 m on Friday evening. However, on a personal level, it doesn’t change anything. On the track, she’s not my friend and I mustn’t base myself on someone else.
Even though I’m still a little tired, I am in shape. And above all I’ve recovered. On Friday, I hope to rediscover the old sensations and be able to accelerate in contact with the girls. My injury has been very difficult to control though so I’m still lacking a certain something.
I’m not thinking about my time. All I want is to do better than I did in the European Cup in Munich (11’’36). I am very demanding on myself, and I know that I’ll go from strength to strength.”

Memo
Date: Friday 6th July 2007
Opening of the doors: 1730 hours
National meeting: 1800 to 1900 hours
International meeting: 1930 to 2200 hours

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