Jean-Luc Duez destroys M50 world decathlon record in Lyon

Shade in the stands (and under the trees) will be welcome at 2015 Lyon worlds.

In 2010, Sacramento hosted nationals a year before worlds. Lyon did the same this year. French masters nationals, held last weekend at the site of 2015 worlds, drew a record 1,100 entrants, including more than 40 athletes from Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Russia and Portugal. And at least one Yank — multi-eventer Chris Bates, who turned 50 on the first day of the dec. So he had a good view of Jean-Luc Duez’s M50 world record in the dec. Jean-Luc scored 7897, beating the listed WR of 7556 by Italy’s Hubert Indra in 2007. Results are here. Eurovets also reports the presence of WMA Prez Stan Perkins.

Chris Bates had a hip injury but still managed to high jump 1.75 (5-9), which he thinks equals the best in a dec for his age group. “Maybe I can run better next year after surgery,” he says.

Of Jean-Luc, Chris says: “He’s in fantastic shape. …. His standout event was the 400
in 54.60, considering the 4 mps headwind we had in the homestretch. (And for the
100 and 1500 too).”

Chris also writes:

The track is very nice. I really had no complaints except the HJ and vault pits are extremely hard. The warmup tracks are nice. The problem was the constant 3-5 mps headwinds for sprints. And it will be very hot in August here. There is lots of shade around the track, however.

I didn’t visit the other venues that will be used for worlds. Everybody was very friendly and professional. It was funny, though, that they charged me 50 cents for my bib pins. They didn’t have any reader boards for the field events, but things like that may be different next year.

The restrooms are bad, and parking will be difficult for the number of competitors of a world champs. I had to walk a quarter-mile the first day. I would allow plenty of time. Lyon is a great city; this is my second time here. There’s plenty to see here and of course Provence is only 2 hours away.

Here are some photos from the meet.

A short report on the dec WR.

Italy’s Andrea Benatti also was at Lyon and posted some photos.

Andrea writes: “One official track in the stadium, another track with 3 lanes at 30 meters [near] the first. And 6 lanes straight track over 150 meters between the 2 oval tracks. An infinite park with many spaces for field events. A sort of Paradise for athletes and… every kind of sport!”

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June 13, 2014

3 Responses

  1. yves - June 13, 2014

    We were in to cheer him in the last lap of his
    1500M but he didn’t need it and accelerate in the last 100M

  2. Christel Donley - June 14, 2014

    Talked to a lady in Porto Alegre ( she mentioned she will be the meetdirector in Lyon) :” all will be better and more organized ” . I believe her.

    Had to laugh about the charge for pins for the bibs… ask Rita Hanscom, happened to us sin Claremont-Ferrand – I thought it was a joke? BUT NO. I refused; we checked our bags and found a few, then went to a market to buy a bag full to distribute.

    Speaking of restrooms, nothing can be worse than
    Porto Alegre… YET….

  3. Mary Harada - June 14, 2014

    I hope to go to Lyon – having missed Porto Alegra and Budapest – and I did not recall the pin issue in Clermont-Ferrand but then I always have a bunch in the bottom of my track bag so maybe I missed a chance to make my airfare by selling pins.

    and one more note – anyone going to San Jose, Costa Rica for the NCCWMA in August – lots of folks like to retire to Costa Rica – think of it as a chance to check out possible retirement property – just kidding –
    I hope that lots of US folks will be able to support the Regional Meet in Costa Rica.

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