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French 5K Championships: Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier and Camille Place master the mistral in Fréjus

SA
By Sarah Ali

Published on Thu, September 10, 2026

Updated on Thu, September 10, 2026

French 5K Championships: Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier and Camille Place master the mistral in Fréjus
© Florian Frisson / FFA

It was a French 5K Championship with a difference: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind stole the show at Sunday’s national championships in Fréjus, Var, on October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the race ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier and Camille Place claimed the senior titles.

✓ Marathons.com takes you through the various races at a national meeting defined more by tactics than by fast times.

From 1500m to 5K, one step was all Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier needed

The men’s title went to the Toulouse-based 1500m specialist, known for his blistering finishes and a 3:31.51 personal best set in Paris in 2025. Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier opened his season with a bang on the Fréjus course, winning in 13:57 ahead of AC Romorantin athlete Baptiste Guyon in 14:00.

After a cautious first 2.5km loop spent tucked into the pack to shelter from the wind, the Elite race favourites gradually pulled clear, avoiding any sudden acceleration that might have exposed them to an especially brutal headwind.

Eole was playing tricks on the Mediterranean coast on Sunday morning. The wind was neither in their faces nor at their backs, but blowing across the course. The athletes were constantly battling it, with no respite. The 1500m specialist nevertheless unleashed his finishing speed to break away from his rivals and cross the line ahead of several distance specialists. Entente Athlétisme Cambresis athlete Martin Desmidt completed the podium in 14:07, after finishing second in 2024 and third in 2023 at the French 5K Championships.

Camille Place makes a fearless senior debut

Camille Place dethroned Philippine De la Bigne to become the new French 5K champion in 16:03. That was a modest time for an athlete with a 15:36 personal best, but far from insignificant given the conditions. The EA St Quentin en Yvelines athlete, the 2025 French short-course cross-country champion in the U23 category and a newcomer to the senior ranks, won a tactical race decided over the final kilometre. The three leaders gradually broke away from the pack, with no dramatic sprint but steadily growing gaps between the medalists. Philippine De la Bigne (Entente Paris Université Club Stade Français) finished second in 16:06, followed by Augustine Haquet (UA Versailles), who took bronze in 16:12.

Tight battles in the younger age groups despite a fickle wind

Gaston Rohmer of Vendenheim Athlé broke clear in the U23 race to take the title in 14:12, ahead of Gaël Leprohon of Bourges Entente Athlétisme and Louis Michel of Clermont Auvergne Athlétisme, who finished in 14:23 and 14:26 respectively. In the women’s race, Louise Bailly won in 16:18, also placing fifth overall in the Elite race. The Grand Toulouse Athlétisme athlete finished ahead of Manon Agostini of Dordogne Athlé, who ran 16:52, with Lola Darcy (Dijon UC) third in 16:55.

A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrick Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA
A different atmosphere at the French 5K Championships: no finish-line arch, no banners, no signs. The wind certainly disrupted the French 5K Championships in Fréjus on Sunday, October 26. Organizers had considered cancelling after Storm Benjamin and the threat of violent gusts, but the championships ultimately went ahead with changes made to keep everyone on site safe. In conditions better suited to sailing than running, Camille Place and Pierrik Jocteur-Monrozier claimed the Elite titles.© FFA

Lamia Mourabit of Grand Toulouse Athlétisme followed her teammate’s example by dominating the women’s U20 race. She became the new French champion in 16:26, ahead of Gwladys Bouzar (Stade Rodez Athlétisme) in 16:56 and Caroline Pierrefitte (Corrèze Athlé) in 17:02. Three titles for Grand Toulouse Athlétisme: Clara Drapeau won the U18 title in 17:24. Clermont Auvergne Athlétisme athlete Lilou Ventura completed the podium in 17:31, followed by Elyna Mille (Auby Athletic Club) in 17:33.

In the junior men’s race, Yoann Debroucker (Club Athletic du Roannais) won in 14:33, getting the better of César Dumonceau (Ea-Romans-Bourg de Péage), who took silver in 14:38. Triathlete Leni Remer Mancini (Racing Multi Athlon) finished third in 14:40.

The cadets’ podium comprised Malo Kerhamon (Fibre Élite Running) in 15:04, Maxence Bal (Athletic Club Font Romeu) in 15:09 and Camil Chefirat (Grand Paris Seine et Oise Athlétisme) in 15:23.

✔ Find all the results from the 2025 French 5K Championships in Fréjus