The first is Jamaican; the other two are French. Usain Bolt, the six-time Olympic champion in the 100, 200 and 4x100m. Renaud Lavillenie, the world record pole-vaulter. Mahiedine Mekhissi, the three-time European champion over 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase. These two runners and one triple jumper have been chosen to top the bill at the Parisian meeting, where they’re set to really put on a show.
In addition to the participation of Usain Bolt, who was announced last month as being on the start line of the 100m, the organisers today confirm the presence at the MEETING AREVA of two French athletes who are among the most successful of their generation. Two familiar faces of a meeting where they have frequently made the sparks fly.
Renaud Lavillenie feels at home in the Stade de France. Every year he participates in the MEETING AREVA. He compels recognition every time. The 2015 edition should offer him an unprecedented level of competition and one full of promise with two of the most talented young pole-vaulters of the day: Canadian, Shawnacy Barber, 21, this year’s second best performer in the world indoors with a jump of 5.91m, and Pole Piotr Lisek, 22, author of a 5.90m indoor jump last month.
Mahiedine Mekhissi is another familiar face at the MEETING AREVA. In 2013, he set the European 3,000m steeplechase record here in a time of 8’00’’09. However, the French runner will be spoilt for choice for the 2015 edition, which features the 1,500m and the 3,000m steeplechase. In the first event, he’ll be keen to improve on his personal best, a time of 3’33’’12 racked up in July 2013. In the second, his favourite discipline, he’ll once again be looking to shake up the dominance of the Kenyan runners.
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MEETING AREVA
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