Amiens Métropole 5 km French Championship Semifinals: A Popular and Sporting Success
For the fourth consecutive year, participants in the 5 km French Championship semifinals took over La Hotoie Park in Amiens on Sunday, September 21. Over 500 runners from across the Hauts-de-France region took part in the three 5 km races, scheduled throughout the morning according to the times registered or desired by the participants.
Starting at 10 a.m., the first wave of runners, those expected to finish in over 21 minutes, took off for the 5 km. Forty-five minutes later, the second group set off as a ray of sunshine appeared, bringing together athletes with times between 17 and 21 minutes. At 11:30 a.m., it was finally the turn of the most experienced runners, with times under 17 minutes, before the event concluded with a mile, a new race added to the program and also officially certified.
| Remarkable performances
The 5 km race for the most experienced athletes lived up to expectations, with four runners clocking under 14 minutes and the first female finisher crossing the line in 16’18. Modestly, Amel Bouyij said: “I had planned for 16’20, but of course, with the guys taking off fast in front, it slightly threw off my pace. If it holds, great; if not, it’s more complicated, but I managed.” The ESC Tergnier Athlétisme runner will compete in the French Championships on Sunday, October 26.
She won’t be the only one with a shot at Fréjus: the race winner in 14’26, Étienne Nancel, will also be there. He crossed the finish line with a smile and raised arms, without pushing to the limit. “Gauthier and I set the tempo for four kilometers, but I had the goal to push, so in the last kilometer, I went for it, did 2’48. I’m ready for the French Championships; my legs are already there. Surely, the time will drop even further.” A few minutes before the start, his coach at AUC, Pascal Machat, commented on his potential: “I think Étienne will compete for the win.” Fifteen minutes later, he exclaimed: “I told you! He was far above the rest, even though they don’t do many road races.” Indeed, Étienne is a 3,000 m steeplechase runner, who finished 6th at the Junior French Championships last season.
| From Personal Bests to French Records: Regional Runners in Top Form
Regulars of the regional circuit, known for their strong performances, didn’t miss this 4th edition. Among them, Charline Euh, frequently medal-winning on the roads of the Somme, ran alongside her life partner, Clément Ringard, also recognized in the regional running scene. 16:37 is the new time set by the Amiens native. “Normally, my PB is 17:16, but on 10 km, I always went faster, around 16:45, and I couldn’t quite achieve it on a 5 km, so I’m super happy,” said the runner, who will celebrate her two-year anniversary of running in a few days. As for Gauthier Cascales, he won the Mile. Frustrated by his performance in the elite 5 km, where he finished fourth despite leading the pack with Étienne for the first four kilometers, the US Camon athlete expressed his disappointment: “I could have done a bit better. In the last lap, they finished much faster than me. They were stronger. I’m far from my record (14:22), but it’s still the beginning of the season. The Mile was just for fun, and a bit of revenge!”
Among the masters, regular of the Course des 4 Saisons, Brahim Zouaoui, once again stood out: “I don’t understand, I’ve only been back for two and a half weeks, I run 15:24, just 10 seconds from my record. I wanted to go under 16’ because I haven’t done any specific training for the 5 km,” rejoiced the Amicale du Val de Somme member, who will also line up in Fréjus to try to win a medal in his Master 2 category. Marathon queen Chantal Langlacé graced the event with her presence: “I had never run a Mile,” she smiled. “That’s two new French records, along with the 5 km. Since no one has run the Mile yet, it’s an easy record, but in my career, I’ve always loved starting out.” The former holder of two marathon world records (1974 and 1977), now 70, added with serenity: “As long as I can run, I might as well enjoy it, rather than lying on the couch. Don’t overthink it. It’s a really tough sport, but my body feels good, and that’s what matters.”
« As long as I can run, I might as well enjoy it, better to die in full activity than on the couch. »
Chantal Langlacé, French marathon champion in 1982 and 1984
| From Personal Bests to French Records: Regional Runners in Top Form
Clubs were strongly represented this year, which explained the particularly high level of the participants. “It’s a competition-focused race that is starting to gain a bit of a reputation. About 85% of participants are club members, which is incredible. To my knowledge, no other race has achieved such a figure,” explained Dominique Lazure, president of the organizing club. For example, there were no beginner runners, who might have aimed simply to complete the 5 km distance. “Maybe the name ‘French Championships semi-finals’ intimidates a bit. Yet, the course is flat and we could welcome them without any problem, but they prefer to come to the Course des 4 Saisons. There’s something for everyone,” he added in an attempt to address this issue.
Several regional clubs deserve mention, such as AUC, US Camon, SCA Athlétisme Abbeville, VGA Compiègne, and AC Boulogne, where Jimmy Gressier, double medalist at the Tokyo World Championships, made his first steps. “You have to take Jimmy as an example. We often talk about him in the locker room. It’s amazing to see him coming back to train at the club. In races like this, we think: if he can do it, then so can we. It’s a different life: he gets up in the morning to go run, we get up to go to class. I’d love to finish like that one day, but… we’ll see,” said Leny Coppin, a young athlete from the club, present that morning with about ten of his teammates, all competing for the upcoming French Championships.
This race represents “the only opportunity of the year where runners can qualify with a less demanding time than in other 5 km races,” explained Jean-François Delasalle, announcer and organizer of the event. Among the 12 semi-finals held across France, the Amiens race is the most attended, with a record of over 500 participants this year and a flurry of personal bests. “With the weather cooperating, no wind, a bit of coolness, and a flat course, all the ingredients were in place for a great success.” It was on these words from Jean-François Delasalle that the event concluded, while some participants were already heading back to training, following up with a session on the very course of the race.
Sabine LOEB
Journalist
