French 10,000m championships: Bour's big day

Felix Bour completed a stunning run to win his first national title over 10,000m in 27’37”66, a blasted personal best and minimum for the Europeans in Rome. Among the women, Mélody Julien made a solo jump to win in 32’35”92, again her new reference time and the time required for the continental meeting.

Two-time silver medalist over the distance, in 2017 and last year, Felix Bour had ” a revenge to bring (oneself) » during this 2024 edition, in his own words. It was brilliant with, in addition to the title, an excellent time for the founder of Racing Multi Athlon. Arriving at Pacé with a record time of 27’51”22, the 30-year-old athlete reached a major milestone by crossing the finish line in 27’37”66.

The result of a well-worked strategy, with a cautious start in the wake of the hares, then a gradual acceleration and two final frantic laps after the last pace leader had pulled away. Buoyed by the encouragement of a full and enthusiastic crowd of arrivals, Felix Bour, dynamic stride and perfect placement, pulled away to become the tenth greatest French athlete of all time. ” I broke all my records like that, and started at a fairly leisurely pace until halfway through the race.he confided warmly, a few minutes after the race. The ending is one of my strong points. »

Rome and Paris at the forefront

With this performance, he easily achieved the minimum requirements for the EC in Rome (28’20”00) and scored valuable points – 60 – in the ranking, with a view to the Olympics in Paris. Enough to open up new perspectives for him, such as the possibility of validating in two weeks for the second time over 10,000 mi London, thus integrating the ranking. Felix Bourauthor of the minimum Olympic standards in the marathon with his 2h06’46” in Valencia last December, should be spoiled for choice at the European Championships in Rome, with the option of competing in the half marathon or 10,000m.

The pupil of Stéphane Valenti was alone in the world this Saturday evening on the track of the sports complex Jean-Paul Chasseboeuf, where he took at least one lap from all the competitors. Especially after his clubmate left him Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, the last to have managed to follow him before he dropped out after the third kilometer. These are the masters 0 Riad Guerfi (Run Up Nanterre) and Matthew Brulet (AS Saint-Junien) who followed him on the podium, in 29’04”09 and 29’07”74 respectively, while Quentin Bronchart (Saint-Brieuc Athlétisme) ranked first hope in 29’40”42.

Mélody Julien took responsibility

In women, Melody Julien used his usual strategy, which turned out to be a winner. Knowing how to immediately take the lead of the race, without asking questions or turning, never to let go. Starting very quickly, with less than 3’10” per kilometer, and clocked in 16’10” at 5000m, the member of the Association Multisports Montredonnaise experienced a slump around the seventh kilometer. We could then believe in the return ofAnaïs Quemener (La Meute Running), which was less than 50 meters away. But the athlete trained by Max Lesauvage managed to restart the pace and finally won without a tremor, in 32’35”92. She subtracts more than thirty seconds from the benchmark (33’07”25) and wins, as Bour, her first title as French champion in the 10,000 m among seniors, as well as the minimum requirements for Rome (33’00”00). The rest of the program for the marathon runner, author of the minimum requirements for Paris over 42.195 km with his 2h25’00” in Valence: a preparatory course in Font-Romeu and then the continental meeting, where she will compete in the semi-finals.

For the first 10,000 m of his career, Anaïs Quemener went for a fine silver medal in 33’04”67, less than five seconds from the minimum for the EC. The podium is completed by a third marathon specialist, in the person of Meline Rollin, seemed a bit blunt with the time 33’32”20. The French U23 champion is Constance Dennilauler (Athletics Vosges EC), 6th overall in 35’20”29.

All results by clicking here