Kim Gevaert of Belgium winning her 60m heat (© Getty Images)
Kim Gevaert proved once more to be a true ambassador for Belgian athletics during this weekend’s national championships (10-11 July).
Equals national 100m record
Gevaert, the 26-year old World Indoor 60m silver medallist electrified the crowd in the King Baudouin Stadium with some outstanding sprint performances.
"National Kim" didn't seem to be disturbed by the chilly and windy conditions as she stormed to a 100m victory in 11.14, equalling the national record that she set in the Milano IAAF Grand Prix II in June.
Then in the 200m she shattered her seasonal best performance showing perfect speed endurance and composure as she came furiously off the bend. With 22.55 she remained just two hundreds off her national record, posting the 7th world performance of 2004.
"I am relieved today. I felt I was putting too much pressure on myself the past weeks. This is very assuring, a true boost for confidence,” said Gevaert.
After missing out unfortunately on the Sydney Olympics, Gevaert is eagerly aiming to make the Athens Olympics the highlight of her career, and if she arrives in her best shape in Athens, she won't hesitate to work her way through three events (100m, 200m and relay).
Good Athens relay chance
The Belgian women’s sprint relay team finished 6th in the Paris World Championships and has been consistent in the event over the past three years. In the European Cup in Plovdiv, they lowered the national record recently to 43.14, and are currently ranked 8th of the top 16 teams which will go to the Olympics.
Gevaert’s team mates Elodie Ouedraogo, Lien Huyghebaert and Kathleen De Caluwe all left fine impressions in their individual races at the championships (times shown below) and are confident that they can break the 43 second barrier in the 4 x 100m.
Stevens’ fifth Olympic campaign?
Patrick Stevens is making his bid for a fifth consecutive Olympic Games. The 36 years old finished 7th in the legendary Atlanta 1996 200m final when Michael Johnson set his 19.32 World record.
This weekend Stevens surprisingly beat favourite Anthony Ferro in the 100m, while both made it a photo-finish in the 200m. Should Stevens fail to qualify - 20.45 is required - he might well be travelling to Athens to support his wife Denise Lewis in defending her Olympic Heptathlon title.
Others eyeing Athens ticket
Joeri Jansen had already secured his Olympic 800m ticket and withdrew from the final due to illness. Belgian 400m hope Cedric Van Branteghem is behind schedule in his preparation for Athens due to injuries and contended the 200m, finishing third.
Other Belgians with high hopes of earning their Olympic ticket include Sandra Stals in the women’s 800m, who was looking for speed this weekend in the 400m and set a seasonal best of 53.20 the heats.
Discus thrower Jo Van Daele has thrown regularly regular beyond 63m this season, keeping the Olympic standard of 64.60m within reach. The wet conditions did not allow him to throw over 61m at the championships.
Distance runners Veerle Dejaeghere, Ridouane Es Saadi, Tom Compernolle and Monder Rizki place all their Olympic bets on running well at the Heusden-Zolder IAAF GPII on 31 July.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
Selected results
Men
100m (w0,2): 1. Stevens 10.43, 2. Ferro 10.48
200m (w1,1): 1. Ferro 20.97, 2. Stevens 20.97, 3 .Van Branteghem 21.30.
10,000m: 1. Van Hooste 28:58.13
110H (w2,4): 1. Broothaerts 13.91
3000SC: 1. Desmet 8:32.91 2. Van Koolwyk 8:36.45
SP: 1. Blondeel 18.88m
DT: Van Daele 60.91m.
Women
100m (w1,4): 1. Gevaert 11.14 (NR), 2. Huyghebaert 11.49, 3. Ouedraogo 11.57
200m (w0,4): 1. Gevaert 22.55, 2. Ouedraogo 23.11, 3. De Caluwe 23.96
400m: Stals 53.34
1500m: Dejaeghere 4:13.80
5000m: 1. Baouf 15:50.20 2. Vanden Bempt 15:58.13 3. Smolders 16:00.40
10000m: Aboulahcen 33:54.25
3000SC: 1. De Croock 10:16.65
JT: Stas 53.18m
PV: Dufour 4.11 (NR)
