Under an unforgiving sun and with temperatures brushing the 40-degree mark, the athletes of AS Monaco Athlétisme put on a remarkable display this past weekend at the Regional Championships in Avignon. Undeterred by the sweltering heat, the 22-strong Monegasque squad, ranging from cadets to senior competitors, delivered a string of standout performances, collecting a total of nine medals, including five golds.
Women Lead the Charge
The women of Monaco were at the forefront of this athletic surge. Tetiana Savluk-Lagoutte surged to victory in the senior women’s 400m, clocking a commanding 58.09 seconds, an impressive time given the scorching conditions. In the long jump, Christel El Saneh continued her consistent form, soaring to land 5.65 metres away and securing the top spot on the podium.
Men’s Squad Follows Suit with Power and Precision
Not to be outdone, the men brought their own fire to the track and field. Karim Sfaxi laid down a strong performance in the U23 400m, seizing gold with a time of 50.09 seconds. The junior 400m hurdles produced a stunning 1–2 finish: Axel Remy clinched the title with a personal best of 56.49, followed by teammate Ryan Tiche in 62.39. In the triple jump, Jean-Noël Crétinoir flew past the competition, hitting 14.97 metres to earn the gold. Maxime Harbreteau took bronze in the junior 400m with a 53.86 finish, while Damien Lagoutte impressed in the senior 1500m, also grabbing bronze in 4:15.22. On the 100m straightaway.
Thomas Caredda capped off the sprint events with his season-best 10.80, good enough for third place and a strong finish to his championship run.
Strong Depth Across the Board
Beyond the medalists, several other Monegasque athletes made their mark. In the Cadet Girls, Jade Payen ran 29.43 in the 200m heats.
Among the Junior Women, Emma Bottin posted 13.27 (with +3.2 m/s wind assist) in her 100m heat, finishing 5th in her final.
Racing with the Senior Women Julia Dale placed 4th in the 800m (2:22.10), and Sophie Robson clocked 61.95 in the 400m final and 27.22 in the 200m heats.
Among the Cadet Boys: Riccardo Dossena (11.67 – 100m, 23.63 – 200m), Adriel Gaglio (11.78 – 100m), Natan Girardin (4th in 1500m with 4:16.46), and Tom Royet (2:18.91 – 800m heat) all showed promising form.
As for the Junior Boys: Téo Bottin timed 11.26s for the 100m, and 23.25s for the 200m.
And among the Senior Men, Valentin Bouthier clocked 2:05.34 in the 800m final.
A Promising Prelude to Summer Goals
Despite the searing heat and taxing conditions, the Monégasque team showed resilience, maturity, and growing depth. With a balance of raw talent and seasoned strength, this group looks well-positioned to attack the next set of summer competitions with confidence and ambition. These Avignon Regional Championships may be over, but for AS Monaco Athlétisme, the season is just heating up.
