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Christophe Lemaitre of France competes in the men's 100 metres heats during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting at the Stade de France Stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, July 6, 2012. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Frenchman Lemaitre to skip 100 meters
Frenchman Lemaitre to skip 100 meters
Posted : Thursday, 26 July 2012 12:50PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, Europe's best hope of challenging the expected Jamaican and American domination of men's sprinting at the London Olympics, will not run in the 100 meters, his coach said on Thursday.

The 22-year-old, the first white man to run under 10 seconds in the 100m, will concentrate on the 200 meters in which he is ranked fourth in the world this year and the 4x100 relay.

His coach Pierre Carraz told L'Equipe they had put a "definitive cross" against the 100 meters.

"In the results over 100m, Christophe is only ranked 10th among those who have entered," Carraz said. "Over 200m, we can hope for a medal."

Carraz said they could re-consider the decision to miss the 100 meters if there were significant withdrawals before the event which starts on August 4.

Lemaitre won the 100 meters at the last two European championships. He took the bronze medal in the 200 meters at last year's world championships in Daegu, South Korea and helped the French team claim silver in the sprint relay.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Justin Palmer)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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