The middle-distance runners are in their realm at Charléty. The 2024 edition was a case in point. In addition to Faith Kipyegon’s world record in the 1,500m (3:49.04), three French athletes improved on their national record on the blue track. They are Gabriel Tual in the 800m, Agathe Guillemot in the 1,500m and Alice Finot in the 3,000m steeplechase. The latter ran a blinder of a finish down the home straight to secure second place in 9:06.15. She finished behind the Bahraini Winfred Yavi (9:03.68). Since then, the CA Montreuil 93 athlete has continued to step up the pace. This was evidenced by her fourth place at the Paris Olympics in 8:58.67, a new European record.
To raise her game, 34-year-old Finot has surrounded herself with a new team including French experts Philippe Dupont, Pascal Chirat, and Spaniard Saul Martinez. Her goal is to adopt a new race plan. This new race plan involves keeping pace with the athletes from high altitudes for as long as possible. Rather than dropping back at the start of the race and then picking her way back up through the field. It is a strategy that she’ll have the opportunity to put into practice against her main rivals in the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris’ 3,000m steeplechase. It may well culminate in a new French record.
The best national performance of all time is also something that Jimmy Gressier and Yann Schrub will be targeting. The former has been shattering French records like there is no tomorrow. He set no fewer than three new benchmarks this winter in the 3,000m (7:30.18), 5,000m (12:54.92) and 5km (12:57). The 5000m record will be in grave danger in the Paris arena on Friday, June 20. Because of the likes of Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, the former world record holder in the half-marathon (57:30). He is also the fourth fastest athlete in the world of over 12.5 laps of the track in 12:38.95. Also, Kenyan Jacob Krop. He secured the record in 12:45.71 and a double world medal over the distance (2nd in 2022 and 3rd in 2023). The 28-year-old from Boulogne-sur-Mer AC, who took gold in the half-marathon European Running Championships in April, dreams of breaking the legendary 12:50 barrier. A performance that just four Europeans have achieved to date.
Given the wealth of talent in French middle and long-distance running, he is not alone in switching things up a gear. Proof of this comes in from the European 10km champion Yann Schrub. He comes with a time of 13:00. He finished just three seconds behind the winner during his national record performance in the 5km race in Lille in March. An athlete who excels at major championships, was indicated by his bronze medal in the 10,000m (2022). Also, his silver medal in the 5,000m (2024), the 29-year-old from Moselle in NE France pushes the limits in terms of times and mental barriers. Used to being cheered on by a very enthusiastic crowd of mates in the grandstands, this year he’ll benefit from the added support of some 18,000 spectators in Charléty. In what will be his debut performance at the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris. A valuable asset indeed.
