The Herculis meeting is the place to be for athletics fans in mid-July, and this year, once again, the world’s best will be present. On Friday, July 17, at the Stade Louis-II, Vicaut will face Gatlin in the 100m, Renaud Lavillenie will be the headliner, and the men’s triple jump promises excitement.
“Fourth year in a row that we’re the best meeting according to the International Federation,” Jean-Pierre Schoebel, director of the Herculis meeting, started the traditional press conference strongly, ten days before the event. He relies on the performances of the 2014 meeting, an exceptional vintage with no less than one junior world record, three continental records, 11 national records, and seven best performances of the year worldwide.
And on the upcoming Friday, July 17, more records could fall, thanks to a very high-level starting list, at even a world level. This is fitting, as five weeks later, it will be time for the World Championships in Beijing. “Presenting a quality meeting motivates us; we make the maximum effort for it to be an event appreciated by spectators and the media,” continues the meeting director.
For the occasion, the headliner will be the French pole vault world record holder, Renaud Lavillenie. In a stadium he loves for its perfect conditions (track, weather, wind), the Frenchman will aim for 6m, to boost his confidence ahead of the Worlds where he wants nothing less than gold, the only medal missing from his collection. Other attractions include the 100m with the brand-new French record holder, Jimmy Vicaut, facing the current benchmark, American Justin Gatlin. Finally, the triple jump with the Pichardo (Cuba) vs. Taylor (United States) duel, where a world record is conceivable.
As for a last-minute surprise like the Jamaican Usain Bolt, who has been injured for weeks, the meeting director responded no. Over 17,000 spectators are expected at Louis-II next week, with ticket sales exceeding the organizers’ expectations.
