Cassandre Beaugrand broke the 10km French national road record: could she qualify for the European Athletics Championships?
The Paris 2024 Olympic champion is said to be targeting 3,000m and 5,000m on the track
Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand broke the French national record for 10km on the road by clocking 30’52”. At the Lille 10km on Saturday 4 April, she knocked eight seconds off the previous benchmark set by Alessia Zarbo in 2025 and added to the 5km national record (14’53”) she already held.
In doing so, she went a step better than Alex Yee who recorded the second fastest marathon by a British male last year. So is a return to the track in sight for the French gold medallist?
During Olympic-distance triathlons, Beaugrand runs 10km after a 0.93mi / 1.5km swim and 25mi / 40km bike – in Paris, she ran 32’42” to take gold. But she hadn’t taken part in a competitive standalone 10km since 2016, which she completed in 33’12”.
A track comeback in sight
After a difficult 2025 season following Olympic glory in 2024, Beaugrand’s PB marks her return to form (in running at least). She told French newspaper L’Équipe in March that she wants to race on the track over 3,000m and 5,000m. Her coach Glenn Poleunis said 5,000m is a greater focus, with qualification for the European Athletics championships this August in Birmingham being a potential goal.
This appears to be in reach. Beaugrand’s national road record for five kilometres is 14’53”. At the 2024 European champs, the winning time was 14’35”, 14’44” secured a podium spot and 15’10” was good enough for a top ten. A win is probably out of reach for the triathlete. But a few seconds’ improvement from the track’s faster surface and more specialised training could enable Beaugrand to set another French national record (14’43” held by Margaret Maury). “I’m close to the qualification times … But I don’t want to try to qualify at any cost just for fun,” Beaugrand told the French newspaper.
Commitments clash
Logistics may be a bigger hurdle than the physical demands. To make the startline at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, Beaugrand will have to race the French national championships (24-26 July). This coincides with a World Triathlon Championship Series event. And Beaugrand told L’Équipe her primary ambition is to defend her Olympic title in 2028. So she will have to ensure qualification for these Los Angeles games.
As is the case for Alex Yee, financial imperatives dictate that more lucrative multisport remains the priority over a single discipline. Taylor Knibb’s ill-fated attempt to combine cycling and triathlon at Paris 2024 may also dissuade Beaugrand from trying to juggle running and triathlon.
Nonetheless, nothing’s stopping Beaugrand from attempting to set a fast 5km time on the track this summer, whether it leads to European Athletics Championships qualification or not. She’s even hinted this could be in a Diamond League event. The pursuit of this objective could enhance her finishing speed in triathlon. It’s unlikely to displease one of her key sponsors, Adidas. Plus, it could help her refresh mentally in the middle of the Olympic cycle.
Jack Evans
