The French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre turned a new page in the history of international athletics on Friday, becoming the first white athlete to run 100 meters under 10 seconds, precisely in 9.98 sec. This happened on the French championship in Valence and this result is at the same time the new French record, replacing the record held by the coloured Roland Pognon with 9.99.
The historical moment in Valence is a great introduction to the European Championship at the end of July in Barcelona. The 20 year old French has now become one of the favourites for the European champion in the 100 meters race, while his major competitor will be the British Dwaine Chambers. If everything goes as planned, these two athletes will represent Europe at the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup, that will be held on September 04th and 05th in Split.
On the same Friday, our best athlete
Blanka Vlašić jumped at the meeting in Barcelona. She tried the same surface that will be used for the European Championship in Barcelona. At the end Blanka
came in second, with
200 cm. She was second due to one more attempt than the winner, the American
Chaunte Howard-Lowe, who jumped 200 cm in her second and Blanka needed three attempts for this height.