Author of the Minima FFA for the Tokyo World Championships from his first release of the summer season, with his 8’11”78 (11th) on April 26 in Xiamen (China), a personal record for the key, Nicolas-Marie Daru continues this Saturday on the same distance in Keqiao. With the desire to take more risks, even if it means exploding. The Franco-Beninoise of AJ Blois-onzain Noélie Yarigo on 800 m and the Burkinabé of Artois Athletics Hugues-Fabrice Zango will also be there.
Did you expect such a time from your first 3000 m steeple of the season?
It is a result that goes beyond my expectations. For this first outing, the goal was to validate a beautiful time between 8’15 ” and 8’20 ”. With my coach, François Chiron, we said that if it did not go from the first outing, it would not be catastrophic. It remained a back -to -school race, with the opportunity to be able to put the cursor a little higher during the next meeting. She arrived in a particular context, after my injury in January (lesion to the hamstrings), the impasse on the indoor season, and the cross where I did not perform big performances. I did not do an internship at altitude. I prepared myself in the Paris region, then I spent the last two weeks in Croatia, just to have a little sun.
Can you tell us about the course of the race?
1,000 meters from the finish, I saw with the Wavelight that I was on the bases of 8’15 ” and that I still had juice. In the last 800 meters, I put everything I had, so as to take shelter directly for the Tokyo Worlds by making the FFA minima. I did not want to regret having released a little bit at the end. When I discovered on the display panel my time of 8’11”78, I felt both a great joy and relief. That of having the minima in pockets but also confirming that the choices that we made with my trainer were relevant and that it worked. We will say that it puts me a little more confidence for the future, even if I always pay attention to the excesses of confidence. The season could not start better!
What are your ambitions this Saturday in Kequiao?
I will approach the race completely released and with the desire to do better. I will have to take risks. Having made the minimum will allow me to take initiatives and try to follow. If, at the front, it goes on the same bases as last week, namely 8’05 ”, I think I will stick this time to the group. And I may stay a little less at the back to try to be in the match throughout the race, undergoing less rhythm changes. I will run by accepting the possibility of completely exploding. If this is the case, I will know that I still have work and that it is a racing scheme that does not favor me. And if I manage to hold, it will be so much the better. There will necessarily be a big time at the end.
What is the atmosphere in the stadium during these competitions in China?
They are very good at the organizational level. The stadium was relatively full in Xiamen and there was a very big atmosphere. During my race, I think that a Chinese length jumper has taken first place. People were screaming, we heard the fervor in the stadium. It was pretty nice. Earlier (the interview was carried out on Tuesday, editor’s note), I went to visit the Keqiao stadium, which is incredible with its retractable roof. With the completely closed stadium, there was no wind. If it’s the same on Saturday, the conditions will be optimal.
Interview by Mathis Dussaut-Hayard for Athle.fr
Keqiao’s Wanda Diamond League meeting is to follow live on the L’Equipe channel this Saturday from 1:00 p.m.Find the program and the list of commitments by clicking here
