Parade of stars at the Marseille International Meeting

Twenty years after its creation, the Marseille International Meeting, organized by the essential SCO Sainte-Marguerite, continues to attract the biggest names in world athletics.

Since the notable visit of American star Allyson Felix (the most successful female athlete in history) to the Marseille city in 2018, the Marseille event has established itself as a popular stop on the international circuit. This anniversary edition, organized on Wednesday June 10 at the Delort stadium, from 8 p.m., will be no exception to the rule.

Twelve events appear on the evening’s program, distributed equally between women and men, a parity that has become over the years one of the hallmarks of the event.

« It’s a complicated edition to organize because there are a lot of meetings around the world at this time of year and, as usual, the athletes are looking for minimums »explains Laurent Manneveau, director of the Marseille Meeting.

Accustomed to the exercise, the conductor of the event nevertheless manages to attract leading athletes to the track at the Delort stadium. « The 400 m men and women are going to be very interesting »he underlines, making particular reference to Louise Maraval, French number one in the distance, who had achieved the minimums for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during this same competition two years ago.

The middle distance events also promise a great spectacle with the presence of several headliners, including the British Phoebe Gill, considered one of the great European hopes in the discipline, the former Kenyan indoor world champion Noah Kibet and the Italian Pietro Arese, Olympic finalist in the 1Â 500Â m in 2024.

Several European athletes included in the program will also try to qualify for the European Championships in Birmingham, scheduled in two months (August 10 to 16).

Faced with this tough field, the local representatives will be keen to shine in front of their audience. Among them, the sprinter Lucie Jean-Charles will be particularly expected in the 100 m. Recently returned to SCO Sainte-Marguerite, she remains on the title of French champion in the 60 m.

The organizing club of the Marseille International Meeting will also be able to count on several strong recruits, like Toulonnaise Charlotte Pizzo, three-time French 800m champion, who will also seek to put herself in the spotlight on the Marseille track.

A pre-program placed under the sign of inclusion

The Marseille Meeting will take off from 4 p.m. with the pre-meeting events, reserved for the young and senior categories at the regional and national levels. Nearly 150 children, aged 6 to 14, will follow one another on the track at the Delort stadium throughout the afternoon. For the third consecutive year, para-athletics will also be in the spotlight. A 100m will open the regional program and provide the public with the opportunity to cheer on the competitors. “Athletics has become very democratized in recent years”observes Laurent Manneveau. He is delighted to see athletes of all ages rub shoulders on the same track, from the youngest licensees to competitors in their forties.

C.K.