The Canadian Marco Arop won easily (1:45.41), but Robert (24 years old) was able to dominate the rest of the competitors thanks to a nice last straight line.

"Second is not bad for a Diamond League. It goes very quickly, even when I start I find myself at the back, I'm locked in, I sometimes have holes so I pass. In the last 100m I have + the door + which opens once, then twice, and I finish strong”, he appreciated in the mixed zone.

"Second with guys like that, I know I'm strong this year, even if I don't yet have the level to do what I want in these races. They have more basic speed than me, we'll have to improve this start. I know from the Games that I can play with these guys, but I have to prove race after race. It's important to participate in this kind of international level races. A start like this is never that in France, it's different races. They start fast, don't make mistakes, it's solid."

The Toulousain, eliminated in the playoffs of the Tokyo Olympics last summer, on the other hand remained at a distance from the minima set by the French federation to be selected for the World Championships in Eugene (Oregon) in July (1: 44.70).

Robert is playing the 2nd round of interclubs on Sunday, before going back to the hunt for minimums in Toulouse next week then in Paris on June 18.

In the discus throw, the 2016 Olympic vice-champion Mélina Robert-Michon took 4th place with a throw of 59.96 m.

"I'm happy with the place, not with my performance. I don't miss much, but I can't unfold what I know how to do," she analyzed.

© 2022 AFP