Brussels on 12 July 2008, won by Kevin Borlée (45.21) at right, ahead of Leslie Djhone, left (45.35) and Jonathan Borlée (45.38), centre (© Remi Van Ophem)
Brussels, BelgiumKévin Borlée made his last adjustments in the heats of the 400m at the Belgian Championships in Brussels on Saturday (17). Before travelling to the European Championships in Barcelona later this month Borlée gave his confidence a clear boost when he set a seasonal best performance of 45.22 in a solitary effort.
Borlée did not start in the final that turned out to be an astonishing battle for European team spots between four athletes. The title went surprisingly to Arnaud Destatte in 46.28 who entered the final as the least favoured, beating three members of the silver winning 4 x 400m team of the World Indoor Championships in Doha. Nils Duerinck and Antoine Gillet both clocked 46.34, with Arnaud Ghislain fourth in 46.50.
On Friday Jonathan Borlée, Kévin’s twin brother, broke the Belgian national record in finishing third at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris in 44.77. Belgium is heading for Barcelona now with high hopes in both the individual and the team 4 x 400m competition.
“Jonathan ran very well in Paris, taking into account that he was not 100% healthy and Kévin has shown his strength here in Brussels,” said team coach Jacques Borlée about his sons. “Four others have proven their potential to be part of a strong relay team and Cédric Van Branteghem, who is coming back from injury, is a useful team captain who will hopefully be ready to compete in Barcelona. Great Britain and Russia are equally favoured to become the European Champions in the 4 x 400m, but Belgium will start as a strong contender.”
Berings surprisingly beaten, Zagré and Desmet qualify
The 100m Hurdles was a breathtaking fight between three women. Favourite Eline Berings was surprisingly beaten by Elisabeth Davin who won the title in 13.20 and by European Junior Champion Anne Zagré who finished in 13.23 and qualified for Barcelona. Berings disappointingly had to settle for bronze in 13.25.
Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut skipped the national championships and allowed her good friend Hannelore Desmet to win the title and to qualify for the European Championships as well. The World Junior bronze medallist from 2008 set a personal best of 1.89m.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
Select results -
Men
400m: Arnaud Destatte 46.28
400H: Vincent Vanryckeghem 52.06
1500m: Kristof Van Malderen 3:40.76
HJ: Stijn Stroobants 2.21m
PV: Jonas De Meyer 5.20m
SP: Wim Blondeel 18.44m
JT: Tom Goyvaerts 75.07m
Women
200m: Olivia Borlée 23.18
400m: Elke Bogemans 52.97
1500m: Sandra Schenkel 4:19.30
5000m: Sigrid Vanden Bempt 16:48.58
100H: Elisabeth Davin 13.20
HJ: Hannelore Desmet 1.89m
Borlée did not start in the final that turned out to be an astonishing battle for European team spots between four athletes. The title went surprisingly to Arnaud Destatte in 46.28 who entered the final as the least favoured, beating three members of the silver winning 4 x 400m team of the World Indoor Championships in Doha. Nils Duerinck and Antoine Gillet both clocked 46.34, with Arnaud Ghislain fourth in 46.50.
On Friday Jonathan Borlée, Kévin’s twin brother, broke the Belgian national record in finishing third at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris in 44.77. Belgium is heading for Barcelona now with high hopes in both the individual and the team 4 x 400m competition.
“Jonathan ran very well in Paris, taking into account that he was not 100% healthy and Kévin has shown his strength here in Brussels,” said team coach Jacques Borlée about his sons. “Four others have proven their potential to be part of a strong relay team and Cédric Van Branteghem, who is coming back from injury, is a useful team captain who will hopefully be ready to compete in Barcelona. Great Britain and Russia are equally favoured to become the European Champions in the 4 x 400m, but Belgium will start as a strong contender.”
Berings surprisingly beaten, Zagré and Desmet qualify
The 100m Hurdles was a breathtaking fight between three women. Favourite Eline Berings was surprisingly beaten by Elisabeth Davin who won the title in 13.20 and by European Junior Champion Anne Zagré who finished in 13.23 and qualified for Barcelona. Berings disappointingly had to settle for bronze in 13.25.
Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut skipped the national championships and allowed her good friend Hannelore Desmet to win the title and to qualify for the European Championships as well. The World Junior bronze medallist from 2008 set a personal best of 1.89m.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
Select results -
Men
400m: Arnaud Destatte 46.28
400H: Vincent Vanryckeghem 52.06
1500m: Kristof Van Malderen 3:40.76
HJ: Stijn Stroobants 2.21m
PV: Jonas De Meyer 5.20m
SP: Wim Blondeel 18.44m
JT: Tom Goyvaerts 75.07m
Women
200m: Olivia Borlée 23.18
400m: Elke Bogemans 52.97
1500m: Sandra Schenkel 4:19.30
5000m: Sigrid Vanden Bempt 16:48.58
100H: Elisabeth Davin 13.20
HJ: Hannelore Desmet 1.89m