There are now five for three places. Mehdi Frère, Morhad Amdouni and Benjamin Choquert all three achieved the minimums for the 2024 Olympic Games during the Valencia marathon this Sunday. They join Nicolas Navarro, who had already set such a time and who also did it again in Spain, on this flat course, conducive to good times. Many French people were racing on the route to obtain their ticket for next summer.
In a race dominated by the Ethiopian Sisay Lemma in 2h01′48″, fourth best performance in history, and record for the event, the French achieved a very nice group shot. First Frenchman to cross the line in 9th position, Mehdi Frère took the best option for the Games by finishing in 2h05′43″. About ten seconds ahead of Nicolas Navarro, 14th in 2h05′53″.
???? OFFICIAL: Mehdi Frère (????????) is the first Frenchman in the Maratón Valencia so far in an incredible time of 2️⃣H0️⃣5️⃣’4️⃣3️⃣! ????♂️ Average of 2:59/km and minimum in pocket for the Olympic Games ???????? pic.twitter.com/2qiuEzYcXL
— RUN’IX (@RUN_IX) December 3, 2023
The biggest achievement perhaps goes to Felix Bour, 16th in 2h06′46″. The native of Lorraine had never gone below the 2h10 mark and beat his personal best by almost four minutes. Also in search of minimums, French record holder Morhad Amdouni finished just behind in 2h06′55″.
No more than 3 French men and 3 French women in marathon at the Games
The last French runner to go below the 2 hours 8 minutes and 10 seconds requested by World Athletics, Benjamin Choquert also improved his personal best by almost 1′30 to sign a time of 2h07′42″ and 26th position. The only problem for the native of Nancy is that he is the worst placed of the French having signed the minimums. Knowing that there will only be three selected among these five!
9⃣ French people below the Olympic minimums in Valencia! ????
???????? Mehdi Brother 2:05:43
???????? Nicolas Navarro 2h05’53
???????? Félix Bour 2:06:46
???????? Morhad Amdouni 2h06’55
???????? Benjamin Choquert 2h07’42???????? Mekdes Woldu 2h24’44
???????? Mélody Julien 2h25’01
???????? Manon Trapp 2h25’48
???????? Fadouwa Ledhem 2h25’50 pic.twitter.com/OXjzYomJ4Z— FFAthlétisme (@FFAthletisme) December 3, 2023
Among the women, it was also an Ethiopian, Beyenu Degefa, who won by completing the 42 km in 2h15’51”. On the French side, Mekdes Woldu, who had already achieved the minimums, finished 17th in 2h24′44″. Behind her, Mélody Julien managed to go under the 2 hours 26 minutes and 50 seconds mark set by World Athletics by achieving 2h25′01″, just like Manon Trapp 27th in 2h25′48″, and Fadouwa Ledhem in 2h25′50″.
