Athletics: Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer, the revelation

Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyez alongside her coach and mentor, Hamed Lantih.

After her title as French champion in the heptathlon, the 17-year-old from Nîmes will compete at the continental level, competing in the 400m hurdles during the U18 European Championships in Slovakia. . And this is probably just the beginning.

In the Pouzancre-Hoyer family, we knew Lou-Anne, 20 years old, a lap specialist (53’’17 over 400 meters flat). This season, the general public discovered the little sister, Lalie, 17, who follows in the footsteps of her elder, literally and figuratively, 2nd out of 400 in Lunel. ''Lalie, mentally, she has no brakes'', begins her coach from the start, in Lunel (11 years old, youngest), Hamed Lantih.

On the tartan, nothing seems to be able to stop the young girl either. Jump high, throw far, run fast, she knows how to do it. Recent French U18 champion (2nd year cadet) of the heptathlon, in Toulon.

''This year, it worked because we communicated a lot with Hamed'', confesses the native of Montpellier, 1st season at the Entente Nîmoise Athletics (ENA), where she really launched her career after an exercise at MA2M to forget (quadriceps injury): ''Hamed has been training me since I was little (except in Montpellier) and I trust him blindly.'&# 39;

This medal that started it all

''When we met again, in August 2023, we had decided a top 8 in the winter in the pentathlon (indoor) and a top 5 in the heptathlon, in the summer , explains the coach. So, when she placed 3rd in “France” pentathlon this winter, everyone was surprised.'' Especially since this medal came a week after a 4th place on 400 meters.

''The winter medal was a trigger, confirms Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer . Before, I wasn't too confident.'' In the gym or outdoors, the performances follow at the speed of its frequencies in the corridor.

A first 400 hurdles, at the beginning of June in Lunel, in 60’’21 ; a second fortnight later in Muret in 59’’84 with minimum “Europe’’ to the key; a national coronation in the heptathlon where, with 5,312 points, the Gardoise falls 88 points short of the minimum for the European Championships!

''I want it more than I'm stressed''

This tricolor jersey that Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer will wear in the 400 meters hurdles during the U18 European Championships, from July 18 to 21 in Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), for her first major international competition. '

"If she's in good shape, she'll have a shot to play, Lantih warned. With her time in Muret, what's going to happen there, the fact of running in a tough race, with the French team jersey, a crazy stadium, I think the time is going to explode.''

''I have the impression that it's a long time away, assured the Nîmes native, Saturday, the day before the start. I want it more than I'm stressed. I would like to go to the final and, like everyone else, have a medal (smile).''' In addition to making a name for myself.

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