We had to be patient and scrutinize the entry form from top to bottom to find any trace of French athletes on Saturday in Suzhou. In very small numbers, the tricolor clan was represented “only” by Aude Clavier over 3,000 m steeplechase and Bastien Augusto over 5,000 m. If the first had discovered the excitement of a stage of the Diamond League last week in Xiamen, the second was making his big debut in the humidity of the Shanghai suburbs.
“It’s a great experience, going into such a grandiose stadium does something,” he said after taking 10th place in 13’19”79. Obviously I would have liked to do better on the time but for a first in this context it’s not so bad. I confirm my minimums for the Euro (from June 7 to 12 in Rome) which I had validated two weeks ago in the United States (13’16”85), it is only positive to have experienced this atmosphere for Rome and, I hope, the Games this summer. I came to gain experience, score points in the ranking and get closer to the minimums if the race allowed it, so the contract is quite well fulfilled. »
“I think I need to learn to manage the stadium and the opponents, it’s not cool like it is for young people”
A week after setting his personal best by taking 10th place in Xiamen (9’32”75), Clavier hoped to take advantage of this second race in less than a week in China to tickle the Olympic minimums, placed at 9′ 23”00.
“I tried but I exploded,” the 25-year-old Frenchwoman, 14th in 9’38”53, preferred to smile. I wanted to take risks, it didn’t pay off but it’s only a bonus for the future. I’m really happy to have touched the highest level in the world. I learned a lot here, especially about event management. In Xiamen I entered the stadium at the time of Mondo Duplantis’ world record on the pole vault, I got a shiver down my spine, it was huge. I think I need to learn to manage the stadium and the opponents, it’s not the cool way it is with young people. I can’t wait to go back! »