First-Time Champions, Plus Manaudou, Muffat, Highlight Last Day of French Championships in Chartres

2014 French Long Course National Championships

Meet previews Part One and Part Two
Day One recap │ Day Two recap │ Day Three recap │ Day Four recap │ Day Five recap

Day Six: Sunday, April 13

Overall, the 2014 French championship was slightly disappointing. It wasn’t particularly fast -no (senior) national records were set- and it highlighted the growing disparity between the superstars and everyone else, as seen in the time differential between first and tenth in most events. Moreover, the fact that only three junior swimmers broke age group records makes one wonder about the depth of the pipeline.

In an effort to give more of its swimmers the opportunity to experience international competition the Federation doubled the number of athletes it would select to its national team roster. That meant as long as they met the 2014 European Championships time standards, the top four men and women would have the chance to represent France in Berlin. And yet, although the door was opened much wider this year, only a few extras made it through, especially on the women’s side. Indeed, more than two women qualified in only six of seventeen events. The men took better advantage of the situation, but they still have seven events with only two qualifiers, and in the IMs only 1 of eight potential spots was taken.

But to be fair, the Berlin qualifying standards were fairly generous so many of the elite swimmers swam through this meet, saving their taper for the summer. Jérémy Stravius wasn’t even shaved. We should see a much faster contingent from the Hexagon in Berlin.

Men’s 50 breast: Marseille’s Florent Manaudou accomplished what he set out to do in Chartres: four victories, four qualifications for Berlin. He picked up his final win with the 50 breast. Manaudou touched in 27.66, a new personal best, just .04 ahead of Marseille teammate and defending champion Giacomo Perez Dortona. The pair were the only two under the Berlin cut, as third-place finisher Eddie Moueddene of Amiens went 28.61.

Women’s 50 back: Béryl Gastadello of Marseille led a quartet of Berlin qualifiers in the 50 back. Her 28.73 was a personal best for the first-time French champion. Mathilde Cini of Valence took second in 28.83. Antibes teammates Camille Gheorghiu (28.95) and Justine Ress (29.26) both went best times and made it onto the Berlin roster.

Men’s 100 fly: Mehdy Metella of Marseille won in first French national crown with 52.56, which is just a tick slower than his second-place finish in 2013. Runner-up Jérémy Stravius of Amiens went 52.78, .74 slower than his winning time from 2013. Both men qualified for Berlin, but they were the only ones. Bronze went to Marseille’s Camille Lacourt whose 53.64 missed the cutoff by .12.

Women’s 400 free: Camille Muffat of Nice picked up her fourth win of the five events (50-100-200-400 free, 100 fly) she contested in Chartres with a 4:07.14. Coralie Balmy of Mulhouse took second in 4:08.90. Both were about 5 seconds off their seed times, but should be much faster in Berlin. Third went to Hungary’s Evelyn Verraszto in 4:15.09. Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne of Lille finished fourth, adding 8 and missing the Euro qualification by 3 seconds.

Women’s 200 breast: The top three repeated their 2013 finish in exactly the same order and with almost the exact same times: Coralie Dobral of Montauban successfully defended her title, finishing .01 under the Euro qualifying standard of 2:30.50. Montpellier’s Fanny Deberghes was second (2:30.80), while Laura Paquit of Tarbes took third (2:32.76).

Men’s 200 back: The final event of the meet put two more names on the Berlin roster. Eric Ress of Antibes and Indiana University won his first French national championship in 1:58.61. 2013 champion Benjamin Stasiulis of Marseille took second in 2:00.00. Florian Joly of Toulouse went a personal best 2:01.44 but missed the Euro cutoff by .86.