France's young stars look for a repeat

07 Dicembre 2016

There is nothing quite like winning a gold medal in front of your home fans as France’s junior cross country men can verify. And after their glory in Hyères 12 months ago, now three of that successful squad have the chance to defend their team crown in Chia this Sunday. Over 5.94km last year, as Italy’s Yeman Crippa won the title for the second year in a row, France’s Fabien Palcau was six seconds behind for silver, a peformance which led his side to the top of the podium. France had three runners in the first seven, with Jimmy Gressier in fourth and Mohamed-Amine El Bouajaji in seventh, and along with Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger, they achieved their country's only gold of the 2015 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.

The leading trio are back, where their experience will see them as prime favourites not only for the team gold again, but also to play a major part in the shake-up for the individual medals. Now all 19, Palcau, Gressier and El Bouajaji are joined in a junior squad by Abderrazak Charik, Louis Gilavert, Hugo Hay and Clement Leduc in their pursuit of more glory. The host nation will pose a big threat, though, with Yohanes Chiappinelli, 19, no stranger to success on the major European stage after winning the 3000m steeplechase at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Eskilstuna last year.

And while Norway have only one runner in this event, it is a name which will make the rest of the field stand up and take notice. At only 16, Jakob Ingebrigsten is the youngest athlete in the race but he comes from a triumphant family. His eldest brother Henrik won the 1500m European title in 2012 before an amazing race in Amsterdam this summer where there was an Ingebrigsten in first and third. This time it was middle brother Filip who won European gold in the 1500m with Henrik in third, and what a story it would be if Jakob brought more medal success for the family as their memorable athletics year comes to an end. Jakob turned 16 in September and along with Ireland’s Darragh McElhinney, who is 17 on New Year’s Day, they are the only athletes in the race who were born in 2000.

But there will be major competition throughout in what should be a fine event with so many stars of the future. Great Britain’s Alexander Yee, who was ninth in Hyères and won team bronze, returns as does Mahamed Mahamed, who was the fourth ‘counter’ in the team which finished third on that December day as the hosts triumphed. "Running in France, in front of this crowd, is really fun," said Palcau after the finish 12 months ago, before the whole squad sang their hearts out to La Marseillaise at the medal ceremony. It was one of the best moments of the whole championships and will history repeat itself? 

Men’s Under-20 race starts 10:40am (local time)

LAST YEAR’S RESULT
1. Yeman Crippa (ITA) 17:39
2. Fabien Palcau (FRA) 17:45
3. El Madhi Lahouifi (ESP) 17:46

TEAM
1. France 27 points
2. Italy 29
3. Great Britain 67

#chia2016 #EuroCross

www.chia2016.eu

Condividi con

Tweet

Seguici su: