“Checked! “, said Jean-Sébastien Desgagnés, making a large hook with his hand. He had just fallen into the arms of his friend Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, who had shouted his encouragement to him at the start of the last lap.
It’s not official, but yes, it’s a done deal: Desgagnés has guaranteed his participation in his first Olympic Games, Thursday evening, at the Claude-Robillard sports complex in Montreal. The suspense was almost zero, let’s be honest, but the runner from Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges settled the matter with panache, getting rid of his last traveling companion with a loop and a half to go in the 3000m steeplechase of the Trials of Canadian athletics.
Desgagnés galloped like a guy who finished eighth at the World Championships last year, crossing the last river as if it didn’t exist before jumping over the hurdle on the final straight, punctuated by six fireworks at the ground.
The hero of the evening stopped the clock at 8 min 34.56 sec, far from his personal best of 8 min 15.58 sec achieved last year at the World Championships in Budapest, but that didn’t matter at all, especially with the wind blowing in Ahuntsic.
“I did what I wanted,” said Desgagnés, still excited, a few minutes after the end of the event.
The essential was accomplished: a second national title and a first-class ticket to Paris for the Laval University medical student. His best time is half a second off the qualifying standard, but his 22nd place in the world rankings guarantees him one of 36 starters in the City of Lights. His place will be made official by Athletics Canada on Tuesday.
“In my head, I am 100% selected for the Games, in the sense that mathematically, it is done,” confirmed Desgagnés. I was already expecting it since the start of the season, but the box is checked. »
After following Mick Stanovsek, an Australian who came to try his luck for the Olympic minimum, the Quebecer took the lead in the 600 meters. He beat Ontarian Kevin Roberston (8 min 37.91 s) and Albertan Aaron Ahl (8 min 39.16 s) to secure his victory, which he highlighted with a little celebratory jog in front of the stands quite very full on this chilly evening.
The 25-year-old is in love with his sport and wants to share it.
“We can criticize running or individual sports for lacking soul or showmanship,” he said to explain his spontaneous enthusiasm. Small gestures like that, having contact with the crowd, setting the mood… Without them, we wouldn’t have an event like that. It’s worth thanking them, putting in the energy. »
Desgagnés added that “a track and field race can be as interesting as a football match, or even more.”
On the microphone, Desgagnés thanked his family and his supporters who had traveled from Quebec, including his group of friends nicknamed “The Goons”, who will be 12 to accompany him to Paris. Beer in hand, they had fun chanting “JS” and “Paris” while the new Olympian continued the interviews.
“It’s really exceptional to have the whole gang behind me. We see them today, but they have been behind me for seven, eight, ten years. I was talking about it with my friend Marc-Alexandre. Five or six years ago, we dreamed of a medal at the Canadian championships. Today, we dream of a top 10 at the Olympics. The game has changed. »
After a while, coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe had to come and tap his protégé on the shoulder to remind him with a certain firmness to go for his jog back to calm. Two hours after the steeplechase, Desgagnés indeed launched into the 5000m final to serve as a hare to his teammate Thomas Fafard, who needed another good race to maintain his place among the Olympic qualifiers.
Desgagnés therefore threw away his last strength before pulling away after 1800m, leaving Fafard with the responsibility of racing against the clock… with Olympic silver medalist Mohammed Ahmed hot on his heels. The Repentigny athlete held on for two laps, even dropping Ontarian Ben Flanagan, another big name from the Canadian bottom, thanks to his effort.
At the edge of the track, Philibert-Thiboutot did not fail to let him know, shouting his encouragement despite not being able to play the hare too, like in British Columbia two weeks ago. A minor hamstring problem forced the 1500m specialist to reserve his races on Saturday and Sunday.
Ahmed shifted into sixth gear with two and a half laps remaining, crossing the line at 13:10.99 to improve the championship record that had stood since 2000 by 15 seconds.
“It’s admirable to see teammates helping each other,” said the winner about the dynamic with Desgagnés. He pushed very, very hard. You could feel how hungry he was with every turn. I was very impressed. »
Encouraged by the enthusiastic crowd that had weathered the cold, Fafard fought like hell, flying through the final lap in less than a minute to cut the line in second and stop the clock at 13:18.82, his second-fastest time of his career. It wasn’t enough to improve his fortunes – he will remain 41st out of 42 in the world rankings for the Olympics – but the silver medallist had nothing but pride to express to reporters.
With four laps to go, he admitted that “the energy was at zero”, but he found a last resort by talking to himself “in his head” with words he couldn’t repeat on camera… “It’s was my hardest race of the season so far. I am really happy. I don’t think I could have hoped for more under the circumstances. »
The 25-year-old must now “cross his fingers and say prayers” that no more than one cross-country skier will surpass him between now and the June 30 deadline. He will follow the other national championships with attention, in particular that of Germany, where three pursuers are breathing down his neck. One or two qualified runners could also withdraw to devote themselves to another event.
“What he did today won’t improve his ranking, but his way of running impressed me,” said coach Lapointe. It remains his second time ever, a time which had never been done in Canadian championships, where the races are tactical. He dared and made Moh Ahmed force him a little. Now we keep our fingers crossed. »
Fafard is already grateful to find himself in this position, he who was moving more towards road events after setting a Quebec record in his first half marathon at the start of the year. A personal best of 13:05 in Brussels a month ago, however, put him back in contention for the Olympics. “It’s amazing what a race can change. »
The Olympic contender also showed off spikes and clothing provided by Brooks, a new sponsor who will support him for at least two years. Fafard is now a “real” pro runner, like his friends Philibert-Thiboutot and Desgagnés. After this outpouring of solidarity, the Quebec middle-distance trio wants to shine together on the Stade de France track.