At a few days before the opening of the first indoor meeting in Lyon, It is clear that the event makes the "buzz" to welcome the cream of French athletics, European and global.
If we look at the 800m Men, Moroccan, Mustafa Smaïli, 2 two-time Finalist at the World Indoor Championships in the 800m and Bronze Medallist at the World Junior Championships, will seek qualification for the next World Indoor Championships in Belgrade (18-20 March 2022). Algerian Djamel Sedjati, selected for the Tokyo Olympics, will also be part of the race.
In women side, we will have 3 of the 4 best French including Charlotte Pizzo (Pb : 02'00''76) and the Clermontoise Meriem Sahnoune (Pb : 02'01''75), respectively 2Th and 3Th at the Elite French Championships. They will face, in particular, the reigning Belgian champion, Vanessa Scaunet (Pb : 02'02''05).
The 3000m men is to follow ! This will be one of the flagship events of the meeting. It will offer a show with a very high density of international athletes including new Zealander Hamish Carson (Pb : 07'47''22), the young Moroccan Hicham Akankam (Pb : 07'51''09), the 5Th of the recent European Cross Country Championships belgian Michaël Somers (Pb : 07'52''67), the two Dutchmen Benjamin de Haan (Pb : 07'54'67) and Tim Verbaandert (Pb : 07'56''52).
The 2 hopes of the region Valentin Bresc (DMA Junior 10km France Record holder) and Quentin Malriq (EAG 38 – Reigning France champion of the 1500m Espoirs) and Antoine Senard (Pb : 07'57''80), hope dismissed in Fontainebleau, will take the opportunity to break the barrier of 8 Minutes !
Women's 3000m, World Indoor Championships in Belgrade (18-20 March 2022) are in the line of sight. 2 Girls will pick up their qualification at the meeting : Israeli Selamawit Teferi, 10Th Tokyo Olympics (Pb : 08'49''00) and the Dutch Diane Van, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, Bronze medal at the last European Championships Espoirs (Pb : 08'53''46).
Also to focus on, French hope Manon Trapp (Pb : 09'05''93), 4Th of the last European Cross Country Championships, Elite Cross France Champion !
We will have a beautiful men long jump contest. The Junior World Champion 2021, Erwan Konaté (8,12m), will compete on the territory of the local Bryan Mucret (PB 7m93), vice-champion of Europe Junior in title. They will have to face the very experienced Portuguese Marcos Chuva (PB 8m34), World Championships Finalist 2011. The French, Jean-Pierre Bertrand (8,08m), Yann Randrianasolo (8,08), Raihau Maiau (PB 8m02) and Tom Campagne (PB 7m98), will have to do well.
On 60m hurdles men, the young Just Kwaou-Mathey (PB 7''71), will be part of the event. He will come to confront, in particular, to Turkey's Mikdat Selver (7''72), semi-finalist of the European Indoor Championships in Torun (2021).
On 60m men, the rising star of the French sprint, Jeff Erius, best European performance of all time in the 100m, Jérémy Leroux, member of the French collective of the 4x100m will have to face the Turkish Kayhan Özer (Pb : 6''67, 4x100m relay member at the Tokyo Olympics).
Finally, beautiful stratlist on the women high jump also with Ukrainian Oksana Okuneva (PB 1m98 – World University Champion ; multiple European finalist) and the best French including, the reigning indoor France champion, Solène Gicquel (PR at 1m90).
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