Christophe Lemaitre improves the national and European U-23 record: Athletics news
Christophe Lemaitre, the 21-year-old French sprinter, who specialises in 100m and 200m runs and who has already been a French record holder for the former distance, has broke the national and European U-23 record once again.
While appearing at the French National Championships in Albi, the young runner clocked an impressive 9.92 seconds finish. This has been the fourth time when he embarked upon the European U-23 record, which he claimed last year for equalling Dwain Chambers’
9.97 seconds effort, which stood firm since 1999.
Lemaitre, who is now used to clocking sub-ten seconds efforts, was the first white man ever to claim this privilege officially. In terms of a 200m record, he ties with Gilles Quénéhervé. Among European runners, it seems that Lemaitre is the one who has been
made for contesting sprint competitions.
Last year, when he was still 20, he marked his dominance in the 100m and 200m contests, as well as bagged the 4 x 100m relay titles at the 2010 European Championships. Bagging this record helped him prevail as the only European runner to accomplish the feat.
In Albi on Thursday, Lemaitre hinted towards the current state of fitness and form he was enjoying, which enabled him to clock a jaw dropping 39.55 seconds in the 4 x 100m relay. Pierre Carraz, coach of the French runner had doubted that amid being tired,
Lemaitre might not be capable of overcoming the challenge of high level races which were also marred by a drenched weather and unsupportive winds. However, he remained undeterred by the 1.9m per second wind as he clocked a heated 10.09 seconds finish.
In Albi, as the athletes lined-up and waited to kick-off the race, in which Yannick Lesourd was the first to respond to the fire of the gun. Lemaitre, lining-up on his left, was a bit slower to respond. As the run lingered on, he unleashed the strength of
his legs and with few quick strides, he managed to overcome the initial lead claimed by his rivals.
At winning the race and while addressing a press conference after the run, the French athlete summed up his feelings in three words and said, “I felt great!”.
However, sharing a detailed comment on his performance in the meet, he said, “My start was only average and fortunately, I managed to make the difference in running very fast while staying relaxed. I know I have this time in my legs so I’m half-surprised.
But today I achieved it thanks to excellent conditions so I will have to be able to do it again under normal conditions.”
For marking a 9.92 seconds finish, Lemaitre has become the sixth athlete to qualify for next month’s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
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