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Bernard, Meynard, Agnel Through
Apr 15, 2010 - Craig Lord
On the third day at French nationals and trials in Saint-Raphael, Alain Bernard, Olympic champion, blasted a 48.32 to take lane 4 for the final and establish himself as the man to beat in 2010 with the best time anywhere so far this year, with Fabien Gilot, winner of the first semi, in lane 5 for the final on 48.62.
Bernard told reporters in Saint-Raphael: "I needed a touchstone. The competition drove me to this. I would not have got that time on my own. I don't like to lose."
A tricky one for selectors perhaps: Gilot missed the heats cut for Budapest selection this morning. That took on extra meaning when Amaury Leveaux, on 49.1 this morning, clocked 49.25 for his place in the final but outside the 49.10 cut needed in semis to go to Budapest over 100m. Same scenario for Grégory Mallet, on 49.33.
But fear not, France has depth. William Meynard, on 48.79, and 17-year-old Yannick Agnel, on 48.99 are on track for a blast in Budapest. Frédérick Bousquet, winner of the 50m, was fourth in his semi in 49.41 and will not race the 100m this summer.
Race reports, Saint-Raphael, Day 3:
Women's 800m freestyle
Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne, 19 and racing for Dauphins Toulouse, claimed the 800m freestyle crown in 8:33.91 ahead of a tussle for the minor spoils, Irish visitor and a European junior champion Grainne Murphy, on 8:45.04, getting the edge on Camille Sere, on 8:45.57.
Last year, Romanian Olympic champion over 200m free in 2004, Camelia Potec, won the race in 8:16.70, with Coralie Balmy first frenchwoman home, in 8:25.32, ahead of Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne, on 8:27.93.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: 8:26.35; 8:31.39 p
Men's 50m backstroke
Camille Lacourt, of CN Marseilles and defending champion (winner on 24.78 last year), proved his form once again with another back crown, the one-lap dash his in 24.87. The silver and bronze were reversed from a year ago, second to Jérémy Stravius, on 25.41, third to Benjamin Stasiulis on 25.68.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: 24.46 s; 24.61
Women's 200m butterfly
Aurore Mongel, defending champion who won the crown in 2:06.94 last year, held on to the crown for Mulhouse, in 2:09.05. Silver went to American visitor Kim Vanderberg, on 2:10.68, with Lara Grangeon third in 2:11.52. Two of those who made the podium last year, Léa Giraudon and Magali Rousseau, finished 4th and 5th this time round, respectively on 2:11.98 and 2:12.31.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: 2:05.48; 2:08.94 s
Men's 200m medley
For the second year running a visitor upset the home crew, the crown going to Diogo Carvalho, of Portugal, in 2:02.93. The first two Frenchmen home, Arnaud Rondan and Ganesh Pedurand took silver and bronze respectively in 2:03.98 and 2:04.16.
South African visitor Darian Townsend, racing for Paris, claimed the 2009 crown in 1:58.85 but could not race at French nationals this year because his own nationals are on in Durban at the same time.
In 2009, the first two Frenchmen home were Fabien Horth, with a sub 2min effort and fourth this time round on 2:04.32, and Christophe Soulier.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: 2:00.47 p
Women's 100m freestyle
Winner of the 400m free on day one, Coralie Balmy, Dauphins Toulouse, skipped the 800m to focus on the speed she needs for the 200 and 400m. In doing so she now finds herself the national 100m champion, on 55.79. The silver went to Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne, on 55.98, with bronze going to Angéla Tavernier, on 56.09.
Malia Metella stormed to a 53.49 win a year ago, with Aurore Mongel second on 54.66. Neither were in the race this year, Metella retired and Mongel having raced, and won, the 200m 'fly crown a couple of races before.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: 53.95 s
Women's 100m breaststroke
Fanny Babou, defending champion (on 1:08.37 last year) had to settled for bronze this year, on 1:09.87 and just 0.14sec away from the crown in a blanket finish for the podium places. Gold went to 20-year-old Alena Alekseeva, of Russia and CS Meaux Natation, on 1:09.73, with Coralie Dobral, third last year, stepping up to silver, just 0.02sec from victory. Last year's runner-up, Sophie de Ronchi, finished fourth in 1:10.69.
Times in transition (French nationals top 3, 2009, 2010, plus Rome 2009 top 2 for France)
Rome 2009: DNS
Semi-finals
In the women's 200m medley, Sophie de Ronchi set the pace in the first semi on 2:14.47, before Camille Muffat, of Nice, clocked a 2:10.94 that keeps her well on track for selection to the European Championships in Budapest.
In the men's 200m breaststroke, Hugues Duboscq and Kris Gilchrist headed into another clash in finals, the Frenchman on 2:12.25, the Paris-based Brit in 2:13.62.
In the women's 100m backstroke, Alexandra Putra claimed the first semi in 1:01.75, before Alexianne Castel oput her foot down for lane 4 in the final with a 1:00.87 effort.
In the men's 200m butterfly, Portugal's Nuno Quintanilha was the first below the 2-min mark, on 1:59.14. In the second semi, backstroke ace Pierre Roger, Paris Racing, claimed lane 4 for the final in 1:58.98, ahead of two others below the 2mins, Christophe Lebon, on 1:59.23, and another Portuguese visitor, Duarte Mourao, on 1:59.94.
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