In the last minutes of the ninth day of the World Championships in Eugene (USA), the American relay met with an opposite fate. A victory for the women, and a disappointing second place for the boys, in the 4x100m race. The Twenty continued their work Saturday night 23 to Sunday 24 July, as Kevin Mayer, who got off on a good footing. In other finals in which the French took part, disappointment prevails.
Kevin Meyer on the right kick
The vice Olympic champion in Rio and Tokyo had a decent first day in the decathlon. After suffering injuries in recent months, the 30-year-old Frenchman has alternated between convincing results (10″ 62 by 100 m, 2.05 m in height), one passable (7.54 m in length, 49″ 40 by 400 m) and one below par (14.98 m in weight).
At the end of the first five events, Kevin Mayer took sixth place in the general classification. Far from being a combinard blocker, it’s usually more efficient on the second day. Note that during the 400m race, Canadian Olympic champion Damien Warner was injured, allowing a little more room for Kevin Mayer on the podium, or even at the top. The Frenchman also admitted that he was “Confident” on the address.
Tricolor sequence of 4×100 ineligible…
While the blue relay could hope, thanks to the perfect sprint, to reach the 4x100m podium, the French were disqualified after finishing. Coming off the lead, MEPBA Mikael Zizeh missed his move with Pablo Matteo. If the sprinters are able to complete their effort, and finish in eighth and final place in the final, the Blues will then be disqualified for passing the baton out of the area.
Canada won the final, ahead of the American nominees, thanks to a brilliant finish by Andre de Grasse. On the other hand, among the women, it was the Americans who created the surprise by imposing themselves with breath in front of the massive Jamaican candidates.
… those in 4×400 meters are in the final
On the other hand, the French side is satisfied with the 4x400m race collective who each won their place in the final. The French (Sokhna Lacoste, Chana Grebeau, Soncampa Silla, Amandine Prossier) paved the way by winning third place in their series, synonymous with direct qualification, benefiting from the exclusion of the Dutch. In the end, their goal will first be to optimize their time.
Of the men (Thomas Gourdier, Luc Prevot, Simone Boipa, Theo Andant), the blue relay crossed the line for fourth in its series. The torchbearers best threw all their forces into battle. They snatched the last place in the final by a hundred!
Gabriel Towal is stuck
Seventh in the Olympic final in Tokyo, and sixth in the world final in Eugene. If Gabriel Towal is disappointed with his race, the Frenchman will continue to position himself at the top of the 800m in the world. In a race won by Kenyan Olympic champion Emmanuel Currier, Gabriel Tual cornered the house straight and crossed the line at 1’45.49.
Jean-Marc Pontvienne is far from his marks
Frenchman Jean-Marc Pontvienne qualified in the final of the triple jump thanks to a jump to 16.95 meters, and he did not manage to modify his career. Biting the board in his first two attempts, the triple jump only managed to validate one jump at 16.86 meters.
He finished eighth in a competition won by Portuguese Olympic champion Pedro Piccardo (17.95 m), ahead of Hugues Fabrice Zango (17.55 m) and Yaming Chu (17.31 m).
The unexpected return of Alison Felix
His retirement lasted only a few days. While the American 200 and 400-meter legend announced his retirement after winning the bronze medal in the 4x400m mixed relay, Alison Felix returned to Hayward Field overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The author of a convincing relay in this final (50″ 15), the American was called again by her coaches to participate in the women’s 4x400m relay series, the choice she accepted, aboard the first to join Oregon.
When duty calls, Tweet embed the answers.
Coming out of retirement for the women’s 4x400m relay, live now Tweet embed And the Tweet embed. #sports_world x #WCHOOregon22 pic.twitter.com/uRivOe6EHU
– Team USA (@TeamUSA) 24 July 2022
Alisson Felix is ranked as the second torchbearer, setting the fastest time (50″ 61) for the American group. It remains to be seen if she will make the final. Anyway, if the American team gets on the podium, then Alisson Felix will. Win her 20th medal in the world championship.
