Jean-Simon Desgagnés was clear last Saturday after the preliminary round of the 3000m steeplechase of the World Championships in Athletics: “I’m not going [to the final] as a tourist. The rest that is coming can also be extremely good. »
The runner kept his promise against the 15 other finalists and finished eighth, lowering his personal best by 1.82 seconds on Tuesday in the final of the Budapest Worlds, with a new mark of 8 min 15.58 s.
“That’s the point of training for those big moments!” Arriving in good shape when it counts and delivering, I think I did that really well”, explained the rider, who was equally proud of the work accomplished throughout the season to clinch this classification. ” This is exceptional ! »
“It’s one thing to be in a World Championships final, but it’s even better to compete with them [the best in the world]. I lived the experience thoroughly, both in terms of performance and how I enjoyed it,” continued the man who was 27th in the world ranking before the event.
Moroccan and Olympic champion Soufinae El Bakkali (8min 3.53s) edged Ethiopian Lamecha Girma (8min 5.44s) and Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot (8min 11.98s) to claim a second championship of the world in a row.
After a slow first kilometer, the chances of Desgagnés lowering his personal best were pretty slim.
What has also been done well is its execution at the hurdle crossing and at the river to save energy compared to others.
“I ran smart without getting too crowded in the first 1500 meters and that allowed me in the end to be able to finish strong. »
“It’s really a dream world championship for Jean-Simon and I’m really very proud of him! added his coach, Félix-Antoine Lapointe.
“Qualifying for a final was already a victory. When we made our game plan, the objective, both in his head and in mine, was not to be an extra and to aim for the best eight or ten. He did the plan very well and executed it well. He believed in himself and was not intimidated. Eighth in the world is impressive! »
This good momentum will not continue in the last Diamond League events of the year, because Desgagnés draws the curtain on his season.
“I need rest, both mental and physical. It’s hard to say, because I would like to put my shoes back on and go running,” he jokes before returning to his medical studies at Laval University.
“The Diamond League will be next year to go for personal bests and go back to competing with the best in the world, for sure. »
In an interview with Sportcom, coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe was especially proud to see the step taken by Desgagnés since last season. At his first Worlds in 2022, his protege was ranked 36th. Patient and following the plan to the letter, the runner who had won bronze at the 2019 World University Games is now reaping the rewards.
And even though he missed his Olympic standard by 58 hundredths, the coach doesn’t see it as a setback.
“It’s not an issue because that eighth place is going to give him so many points in the world rankings that to finish in the top 36 next year will be just a formality. With his performance [Tuesday], he will move into the top 15 in the world. Statistically, he is already qualified with what he did today. »
Quebecers Micha Powell and Aiyanna Stiverne could be part of the Canadian team that will start the qualifications of the women’s 4 x 400 m relay which will take place on Saturday. The runners who will represent the country will be announced later this week.