Last weekend the Indoor Elite Championships of France took place in Lievin (FRA), with the two walking races both on Saturday 29 February.
3.000m indoor walk women
The favorites for the French champion title were two: Emilie Menuet (FRA) and Clemence Beretta (FRA) six years younger who returned to France after a training stage in South Africa.
Both athletes showed up on the starting line with personal bests less than 13:00 and made no secret of wanting the title (and record) of France, but above all of wanting to undermine the leadership of the seasonal list Antigoni Drisbioni (GRE) who is leading in 12:27.18
Unfortunately, after a very engaging race for the winner Clemente Beretta, only the goal of winning the French Champion title in 12:30.32 has succeeded.
But the victory was cheered by the new French record on distance dethroning the opponent of the day, Emilie Menuet who held him (12:35.17) having previously established it in Eubonne on 24.2.2016.
Clemente Beretta's improvement was very interesting, filing 21.13/100 to the previous personal best of 12:51.65 (obtained in Rennes on 2.2.2019)
Bronze medal to Marine Quennehen (FRA) in 13:07.56, also for her new personal best (previous of 13:09.57 obtained in Eubonne, FRA on 5.1.2019).
The seasonal world list of the 3.000m indoor walk is updated as follows:
5.000m indoor walk men
The race was practically a solo by Gabriel Bordier (FRA) whose victory in 19:03.49 has never been called into question.
Second place for the young David Kuster (FRA) in 19:54.65
Third place for Kyrian Vallée (FRA) in 20:46.97 which represents the new personal best of the atlhlete (previous of 21:05.81 obtained in Miramas, FRA on 17.2.2019).
(Photos thanks to Xavier Risselin - FRA)