The French athletes were expected to perform, and they more than delivered. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Pierre-Ambroise Bosse broke the French Record in their respective disciplines, igniting the Louis-II Stadium. It was an evening filled with emotions.
Bosse and Martinot-Lagarde didn’t want to dwell on the French record in the 800m and 110m hurdles. In the press conference on Thursday, the word “record” was almost “taboo.” And yet they did it, achieving two remarkable feats. At the start of the meet, it was Pierre-Ambroise Bosse who ignited a beautiful evening for Les Bleus with a perfect race, securing second place and a time of 1’42’’53. Sticking with the stride of the Kenyan star, David Rudisha, as planned, he didn’t falter despite the high pace. In the final straight and driven by the Monegasque crowd, he gave it his all to finally finish in an excellent second place. Beaten by Botswana’s Amos, Bosse shatters the French record held since 2003 by Mehdi Baala. “Tonight I felt very strong, very powerful, which has not been the case for a long time apart from in training. I can’t even believe it, I did 1’42’’53; it’s a very great performance,” PA Bosse confided after his race.
A few minutes later, it was the turn of another French athletics gem, the very young Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, 22 years old. The French athlete had been consistent with three very high-level performances around 13’’05-13’’10, nearing the famous 13-second barrier. A high-level 110m hurdles race featured Aries Merritt, world record holder, and David Oliver, world champion in 2013. With a lightning start, the French athlete flew over each hurdle to secure a win in 12’’95, breaking Ladji Doucouré’s French record that had stood since 2005. “I am super happy and proud to be among those athletes who have broken the 13-second barrier. Tonight I ran relaxed and clocked this super time, this French record. The race was exceptional, yet I hit the seventh hurdle and lost a few precious tenths,” Pascal Martinot-Lagarde recounted a few minutes after his victory.
The last of the trio, Christophe Lemaitre, was anticipated in the 200m, his favorite distance. “Good things come in threes,” the Monegasque crowd thought regarding the French records. The sprint specialist (100m, 200m, 4x100m) eventually finished third in a highly competitive race, won by the American Galtlin in 19’’68. The French athlete can take consolation with his best time of 2014 at 20’’08, a promising sign before the European Championships in Zurich from August 12 to 18.
