Miramas (France) (AFP)

The young Laeticia Bapte over 60m hurdles and Thomas Jordier over 400m shone on Saturday during the French indoor athletics championships in Miramas, where Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was beaten over 800m and where Kevin Mayer, satisfied with his form, confirmed that he would go to the European Championships.

One of the great performances of the day came therefore from the 400m and Thomas Jordier, favorite and clear winner in 46 "13, his personal best and the best European time of the season. The cry of joy from the runner from Amiens has echoed very loudly in the Stadium of Miramas, private of public but a little filled all the same by the numerous athletes cadets, juniors and elite present and their coaches.

"I had had good lap times since the start of the season but it was not yet what we wanted. We know that the podium at the + Europe + will be in those waters, so this time it's the hoped-for time ", explained Jordier (26), now the third French performer of all time over the distance.

Laeticia Bapte, just 22 years old, for her part created a little surprise over 60m hurdles by beating Cyrena Samba-Mayela by one hundredth (7 "93 against 7" 94).

The new French champion, who exploded her personal best (8:10), achieved the best French performance of the season and passed the NPR (required level of performance) for the European Championships, which will be held from 5 to March 7 in Torun, Poland.

"I can not believe it. I knew I was in good shape but this is the must", she reacted.

His victim of the day, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, said to herself "a little disappointed with her bad start" but keeps her ambition to "win the European Championships."

- Mayer in Poland -

On a raised 800m, it was the French outdoor champion Benjamin Robert (1'46 "06) who narrowly won against the 2017 world champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (1'46" 16), two men who had already achieved the minimums for Torun.

“I didn't think I had the juice to finish strong and get Pierre back. It didn't play out much,” said Robert.

Bosse, for his part, was delighted with a "very interesting race" and the "synergy at French level" over 800m.

In the triple jump, the title went to Melvin Raffin, with a try at 17.09m.

"I had very good feelings and that's what I was looking for before the + Europe +. It had been a while since I had done 17m, I'm very satisfied," he said.

Burkinabe Hugues-Fabrice Zango, who could not claim the title, jumped further than Raffin, with a first try at 17.17m, which was also the last for the world record holder (18.07m).

"We did not want to take a risk five months before the Games (Tokyo Olympics, July 23-August 8). Now it's vacation for me," explained Teddy Tamgho's student.

In the morning, decathlon world record holder Kevin Mayer, satisfied with his performances in the 60m heptathlon and long jump, said he would normally compete in the European Championships.

"I was waiting to see the length and everything is perfect. You have to see with the coaches but I think they are full too, so I don't see why I should not do them," said Mayer, who will try on Sunday to compete with specialists in the 60m hurdles, against whom he is aiming for a podium.

© 2021 AFP