Doha (AFP)

An easy qualification for the semi-finals for one, a place in the final for the other: Jimmy Vicaut (100 m) and Alexandra Tavernier (hammer) filled their contract on Friday during the first day of the World Cup in Doha.

Arrived on tiptoe in Qatar with ambitions rather measured, the Blues can smile after a smooth start at Khalifa stadium. In a compound that has, as feared, not filled despite the presence of a strong and noisy Kenyan colony in the stands, the French scheduled opening World Championships have not failed.

There was, however, a slight concern over 100m for Jimmy Vicaut, who was in a very positive series, including 2011 world champion Yohan Blake, Ivorian Arthur Cissé and Chinese Bingtian Su. The European record holder (9 sec 86) landed in Qatar after a dull summer in which he did not go faster than 10 sec 02 on the straight. But the member of SCO Ste Marguerite-Marseille perfectly negotiated the first obstacle set up on her road by finishing 2nd of her series (10 sec 08) just behind Blake (10 sec 07).

The hardest of course is to come with the semi-finals and the grand final scheduled for Saturday, but there may be something to look for behind two American cars Christian Coleman, impressive ease (9 sec 98) for his first race since the revelation in late August of his three breaches of anti-doping localization, and Justin Gatlin (10 sec 06).

- "Go faster" -

"I'm happy, I had good sensations with a good start, let go Vicaut I'm a little in the back end of the race, but I can stay with Blake tomorrow will have to go faster. today I had fun. "

For Alexandra Tavernier, one of the rare chances of French medal, it will have been enough of a test (72.91 m) to validate its place in the final Saturday. Under the eyes of her family, the 25-year-old thrower, looking for a second world podium four years after the bronze won in Beijing, did not explode with joy, far from it, well aware that the hardest remains to come up.

"It's good, but it's not my goal, my goal is the final," she said, "it was a + perf + easy but you should not be trapped."

A trap in which dropped the American Brooke Andersen, eliminated despite her 2nd position in the year's record.

- "A good night's sleep" -

Now the "recovery" for Tavernier, who will have a very good shot on Saturday, especially in the absence of the hammer queen Anita W? Odarczyk, double Olympic champion and quadruple world gold medalist, operated left knee .

"Now that I know the stadium, I will be able to prepare for the best, I will have to have a good night's sleep by storing all the elements of the stadium, the circle, I came a little into the unknown and I do not like I'm a very square person and I do not like things that I do not have a hold on, it annoys me, "she explained.

Tavernier was especially surprised by the heat on the track despite the technology put in place to cool the stadium and counter the hot temperatures of Qatar.

"The speaker is air-conditioned in the stands, not on the track," she said, "so we were told it would be very cold, but it's really hot." Monstrous evacuation on the throwing circle at least 5 cm in diameter, stack where we put our feet, it's not dangerous but it's boring. "

In addition to Vicaut and Tavernier, Rénelle Lamote (800 m), qualified for the semi-finals on Saturday, and Ninon Guillon-Romarin, who got her ticket for the pole final (Sunday), have completed this first day for the winners. blues.

© 2019 AFP