Jimmy Gressier and Yann Schrub work on speed at Décines

They should soon meet again in the EC in Rome over 10,000m where they will be among the favorites for the title. But before that, Jimmy Gressier and Yann Schrub had decided to come and test themselves over 1500m this Saturday near Décines, a meeting which over the years has become the inevitable event of the French middle distance race.

In a very close race with most of the best Frenchmen, the two cross-country runners were the most prominent, since behind the Italian Federico Riva (3’33”71) it was Jimmy Gressier, attacking at 400m from the line, who took second place at 3’34”58 (his best output after already 1000 mi Milan and 1500 mi Huelva), just ahead of Yann Schrub, author of a strong finish run to break his personal record over the distance (3’35”84).

The two men preparing for the higher distances have nevertheless been added to the long list of Frenchmen who have already achieved the minimum requirements for the Rome championships over the distance. An Italian meeting whose doors also opened a little for the steeplechasers Louis Gilavert and Alexis Miellet.

The former, author of a blank season last year due to a knee injury, won the 3000 m steeplechase in 8’24”20 just ahead of Miellet, in full adjustment at 1500 m, and who ran the distance for the first time. The Dijonnaise could have done better without a fall on the last river when he was neck and neck with Gilavert. Nevertheless, the two French internationals achieved the minimum for Roma (8’25”) and join Djilali Bedrani and Nicolas-Marie Daru, authors of this time in 2023.

The traffic jams are also starting to form for Rome since at 5000 m (Gressier, Schrub, Hay, Augusto and Legendre also made the minimum requirements), while he was very fast alone, Etienne Daguinos once again confirmed the minimum over the distance (13) ’20” ) by winning in 13’19”77 – passing the scalp of double Olympic medalist over the distance Paul Chelimo (2nd in 13’21”52).

In contrast, it did not go far in the 800m for Corentin Le Clezio. In full progress, the Ile-de-France resident was ranked second in 1’45”24 (personal best 0.04” from the minimum for Rome) behind Italian Catalin Tecuceanu (1’44”85), while the young Paul Anselmini also improved his personal record (4th place in 1’45”44). Among the women, Charlotte Pizzo also showed great ability by winning in 2’00”96.