Christophe Lemaitre "White Lightning" 9.92 and 19.80!

[white lightning]

I looked it up. The Lievin Meet is on March 5th. So it is this Friday. Less than a week away. Here is a list of sprinters he will be running against. There are some very fast guys on here. It will probably take a p.b. to win the meet. They will probably add a few more names o this list in the next few days.

1 C LEMAITRE CHRISTOPHE FRA FFA 90
2 C CLARKE LERONE JAM SURIN 81
3 C AIKINES-ARYEETEY HARRY GBR HARKONEN 88
4 C RODRIGUEZ ANGEL DAVID ESP ALONSO VALERO 80
5 C EMELIEZE PETER *** THOMSON 88
6 C POGNON RONALD FRA AUGUIN 82
7 C MOSELEY RYAN AUT VANDERLINDEN 82
8 C MANCINI PASCAL SUI MEUWLY 89
9 C STEVENS KENDALL USA FEITH 83
10 C OSOVNIKAR MATIC SLO SPIRIEV 80
11 C MAYOLA FREDDY CUB PINEDA 26968

I hope Christophe can end his indoor season on a winning note!

One last thing. I'm really impressed wtih the coaching staff in France. Especially the coach of Christophe Lemaitre. He seems to be a fine technician of the sport. He has fixed the running form of Lemaitre. It is almost perfect. I know they will continue to fine tune it but I'm very impressed.

Just imagine if Craig Pickering could work with a coach like this. He would have already probably went sub 10. His form and inconsistant starts are what is killing him. Maybe it is time for a coaching change next season if Craig can't turn it around.

 

[trackster]

A typically shaky youtube video of the great event. Kinda hard to tell for sure, but it looked like LeMaitre had a good start for a change, but didn't kick in to his usual highest gear. Maybe it was an illusion because he had an extremely fast competitor next to him, but I think he can go faster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7nT8jlpW6c

 

[trackster]

At the age of 23, Tyson Gay's best 100m was 10.08.
At the age of 21 Usain Bolt's best 100m was 10.03.

Christophe LeMaitre is (to paraphrase the song) nineteen. Nineteen. N-n-n-nineteen. Let's see what he can do. (Oh, and if the other two could finally get caught for their steroids somehow, too...that would be a dream)

 

[FastEuro]

I think if Christophe starts racing other consistent 6.5 guys, like the American and Caribbean sprinters, he will go faster. He is still developing. Looking at his technique, he runs better than last year but seems to me not taking advantage of his long legs like Bolt does. That is the key. I guess that will be the next phase of training for the summer. Work the stride rate to build starting speed (60M) then work on the stride length to cover ground. I believe Lemaitre will do more than just break 10.

 

[The Master]

A typically shaky youtube video of the great event. Kinda hard to tell for sure, but it looked like LeMaitre had a good start for a change, but didn't kick in to his usual highest gear. Maybe it was an illusion because he had an extremely fast competitor next to him, but I think he can go faster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7nT8jlpW6c

I think it's just an impression that you have because of the angle, and because he faced Ronald Pognon who run 6'61 and who is a consistant sprinter arround 10'10 -10'15.

But when you focus on the other guys he destroyed the field as usual

 

[white lightning]

We have to get a better video but for now, I'm posting it again with a live link to it. It's easier to just click on it than to have to copy and paste it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7nT8jlpW6cEdited by: white lightning

 

[white lightning]

This Friday will be a test for Christophe. Harry Aikines Aryeetey has run as fast as Christophe and there are alot of other sprinters with serious speed as well. Guys like L.Clarke, David Rodriguez, Peter Emelieze, Kendall Stephens, and Ronald Pognon to name just a few. We just might see a photo finish between a few of these guys. I want him to break 6.55 and set a new personal best time. That would be huge as he goes into a short break and then resumes training for the summer season.

Any predictions guys? Only 4 days away from the race. I will go first. I predict that PepeLeFlew(The Master) will run a time of 6.53 for the win!

 

[albinosprint]

this may sound crazy, but I'll say 6.49 win for The Master.

 

[FastEuro]

I concur...6.49 to 6.52...if his start is good, otherwise it will be close. I think with stronger competition he runs much faster just like that 4x100 in Berlin where he gained so much ground on the other runners even though he got the baton 5 meters behind.

 

[The Master]

I predict a victory in 6'54

 

[white lightning]

Just wanted to give you guys some new info. There are two Christophe Lemaitre Fan Channels on youtube. There is a Lemaitre Fan Page on Facebook and now Christophe has his own web site. Very exciting news! Here is the link to the youtube channels and to his personal website.





http://www.christophelemaitre.com/


http://www.youtube.com/user/ChristopheLemaitre1




http://www.youtube.com/user/CHRISTOPHELEMAITREEdited by: white lightning

 

[trackster]

I'm not sure if he's already raced, but LeMaitre's meet is available on a live stream:

http://www.justin.tv/bokirkiuc#r=kFvPLKQ~

 

[trackster]

LeMaitre wins!!! Turned on the stream just at the right moment. He beat an absolutely stacked world-class field with a time of 6.58 in the final.

That's yet another time in the 6.5's for LeMaitre. He's developing that all-important consistency.

In this race, which they just replayed several times, he came out of the blocks near the back of the pack, and halfway through had four guys in front of him, but he ran them down, and edged out a massively steroided fellow with an unpronounceable name at the finish. The guy he beat was a former world youth and junior champ who has just spent the winter "training in South Africa" (i.e., evading the drug testers) and studying technique so intently that he claims to have a Ph.D in sprinting. Yeah, well, he couldn't hold off LeMaitre!!!!

Angel David Rodriguez was also in the race. I believe he finished fifth of eight at 6.66.

Mancini, et al, didn't make the final.

 

[FastEuro]

anyone have the video?...I read he ran 6.58, but tied with the british juice head. Was Christophe's start bad? I would like to see the vid.

 

[white lightning]

They ran two races. Christophe ran a 6.60 in the first heat. In the 2nd heat he won in a time of 6.58 and it was the same time as Harry. They had to look at the photo finish. Lemaitre did get a great start however. He had the 2nd fastest reaction time of all the guys in the final. Lemaitre just takes a little longer to get those long legs moving. When he hits that top gear though, it is scary! The kid has won every single indoor race this season. I'm very impressed and like what was said above, this is his third time running in the 6.50's range! Very impressive.

Time for the kid to get some rest and relaxation for a while. He deserves it. What an indoor season by the Master! Congratulations Christophe!

This summer will be incredible. PepeLeFlew is going to very soon earn another nickname.

French Fly Sub Ten!Edited by: white lightning

 

[The Master]

Christophe, after the race, stated :

"Si on ramène mes chronos sur 60 m de cet hiver sur 100 m cet été, je
dois normalement faire moins de 10 secondes"

Which means :

"If we take my times on 60 m of this winter on 100 m this summer, I normally have to make less than 10 seconds "

This summer will be hot.

 

[trackster]

Here's a link to the race:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/7384027/World-Indoor-Athletics-2010-Harry-Aikines-Aryeetey-loses-to-Christophe-Lemaitre-in-60m.html

As you can see, he is way back in the pack for the first half of the race. In the second 30m, however, he is flying past everyone. The only reason it ended up so close (against one of the sport's fastest roiders) was that Aikines-Aryeetey gave a great lean at the end. LeMaitre didn't lean until it was almost too late, although his hips, etc, were clearly in the lead. I guess he was too busy outrunning everyone in the race to lean!

As for the start, I couldn't tell how he got left back. I would have assumed it was a slow reaction, but apparently not. His reaction time to the gun was very solid--second best in the field, as Lightning points out. For a list of times, including reaction times, try this link:
http://www.meeting-pasdecalais.com/resultats2010/60M_101.pdf

Also, there is a badly written recap of the race where they are talking about his 50m split breaking a 29-year-old French record. What's bad about the writing is that the writer neglected to mention he was talking about a 50m split, but it's obvious. Here's the link:
<a href="http://www.iaaf.org/WIM10/news/newsid=55765.html" target="_blank">http://www.iaaf.org/WIM10/news/newsid=55765.html
</a>
The old record (for French U-23) was 5.75. LeMaitre passed 50 in 5.71 in the final.

Finally, you guys might enjoy the title of this short article:
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&amp;prev=_t&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;layout=1&amp;eotf=1&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lavoixdessports.com%2FSports-Individuels%2FAthletisme%2F2010%2F03%2F06%2Farticle_christophe-lemaitre-nouveau-prince-du-ce.shtml&amp;sl=fr&amp;tl=en

It's going to be painful, waiting a few months until LeMaitre runs again and smashes the 10 second barrier. Lightning, you'd better find out the date and time of his very first outdoor race, because I think you'll need the champagne on hand. It shouldn't take him two attempts.

 

[albinosprint]

great win for The Master! I wish the time was faster, but I'll take the win over a good time. this kids gets his drive phase down and you can say goodbye to that 10 barrier. I really can't wait for summer!

 

[FastEuro]

Saw the vid...as far as his start, his reaction was fantastic but it looked like he didn't unwind his legs quick enough once out of the blocks, but he made up for it with amazing acceleration at the 30-40m mark...its amazing that he is only 19 and wont peak probably for another 3-5 years or so.
Edited by: FastEuro

 

[white lightning]

Hey trackster. The champagne is ready my friend. I have a few bottles so that is more than enough for all of us! Lol. I am going to get drunk when it happens. I will tell everyone I see how great this kid is! This should have happened decades ago. The most important thing however is for Lemaitre to go sub 10 very early in the summer. Then if he can run a few sub 10's, people around the world will have to give him the respect he deserves. I don't want them to say, he got lucky and in perfect conditions went under ten. He is far too talented to only be held back. I love his attitude.

I really believe that this kid thinks he can beat Bolt eventually. That is what I want to see in a sprinter. Aim for the best in the world. Never limit your dreams, expectations or goals! Dream it and then acheive it!

The thing I would love to see as well would be for him to do what Borzov almost did. I want Lemaitre to go sub 10 and sub 20! Then to win a few gold medals would be the icing on the cake. If Christophe can win the Olympic Gold in London or the next olympics, I would be one of the happiest guys in the world. The only thing left would be to break the world record.

These are all nice things to dream about. Again though, it is possible if this kid trains hard, stays healthy and continues to progress like he has over the last several years. I believe that when his career is over, he will go down as one of the greatest sprinters ever period! Not just white sprinter, but one of the best sprinters period! Good luck Pepe. If he keeps running like this, I will have to give him another nickname. White Lightning JR!

 

[The Master]

Maybe you would be interested in that old article I found :

http://speedendurance.com/2009/03/09/dwain-chambers-642-mens-60m-whats-a-good-time-for-100-meters/

Actually I was looking for an extrapolation rate from a 60m to a100m and I saw that thing, it's interesting but limited (Chambers did not run under 10).

I would be very happy to know the 10m split of Christophe for his 10'04 in order to see the improve.
</span>

 

[white lightning]

Here is another quote from Christophe after the win yesterday.

It was a good night for French sprinters on home territory as the 2009 European Athletics Rising Star of the Year Christophe Lemaitre won the 60m in 6.58, just getting the verdict from Great Britain's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who was given the same time but finished second after the photo-finish was examined.

"It was hard work and I was too tired to keep up my rhythm all way to the line but I'm pleased. If I keep this up then I am sure I'll go under 10 seconds (for the 100m) in the summer," said Lemaitre, who last July set a European 100m junior record of 10.04 when winning the European Athletics Junior Championships title in Novi Sad, Serbia.


Christophe Lemaitre feels he can go sub 10! You talk about confidence. Very few guys would even say that with confidence due to the track record of white sprinters failing in their attempts to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. It's refreshing to see a 19 year old kid who fears no one. It is just another barrier that he will smash through. He will be the first and that will only be the starting point of an incredible career. Watch and enjoy my friends. He is truely special!

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Vive LeMaitre!


also, thanks for all the links (and translations), guys!

 

[trackster]

And, lest we forget, somewhere out there, in the backwoods of Azerbaijan, we've got another fearless sprinter who announced last year, at the age of 19, "Bolt can be beaten." Guliyev was right on LeMaitre's heels in the 10.04 race.

One last link--an video interview with LeMaitre--then I suspect we're all going to have to suffer for a while, while LeMaitre and Guliyev train in privacy:

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/cove.../313603-christophe-lemaitre-wins-60m-in-livin

 

[white lightning]

Here is a link to the video and interview on youtube. It's great to see that he is working on his english. He answered a few questions in english. It will only help him to become an even bigger star by knowing two languages. Way to go Christophe!

http://www.youtube.com/user/ChristopheLemaitre1?feature=mhw4#p/a/f/0/A_iYyvkXad0Edited by: white lightning