International meeting of the Province of Liège: Eliott Crestan sets a Belgian record, Carmoy and Broeders win

There are two of them, in fact, to have gone below the previous national reference mark signed by Joeri Jansen in 2002 (1.15.35) since Pieter Sisk, second in the race pulled by the hare Collins Kipruto, set a time of 1.15. 19.

”It was the goal to beat this Belgian record here, the last training sessions were really good, and I didn’t always have the opportunity to line up in such good shape in Liège. I am very happy, it gives me confidence for the future and in particular for the Madrid race which awaits me this Friday”explains Eliott Crestan, who is now the second European in history over the distance behind the Frenchman Bosse (1.13.21).

Eliott Crestan obviously hopes to achieve the Olympic minimum over 800m in Spain.

“With Heusden and Liège, I still take quite a few points in the ranking, so it will probably be my last meeting of June, but it is certain that if I can be completely calm this week, that would be ideal”, continues Crestan, who does not yet know if he will line up for the National. “To choose, I would prefer to do big meetings like the Diamond League at the beginning of July.”

Patient Bolingo

One athlete who is certain not to compete at the national championships on June 29 and 30 is Cynthia Bolingo. The Brussels native finished third in the 300m in 37.33, far from her national record (36.47). She was beaten by the British Nicole Yeargin (36.76) and Helena Ponette (37.16).

”The time could have been worse as it could have been betterputs Bolingo into perspective. This season will be really different and I have to accept that. It’s part of the process. I have just completed two individual competitions in a few days (Editor’s note: after a 200m on Sunday in Nivelles) and we will continue the work. My feelings are what they are at the moment. I plan to run at least two 400m races before the Games to find out where I really stand in the distance.”

It will be July 16 in Lucerne then probably in Germany on July 20 before leaving for an internship in Talence. “I feel that I still lack specific training, confidence too, and this comes with competition. So I accept and I really try to build on that”further specifies the Belgian 400m record holder, who will leave for Tenerife from June 28 to July 14.

Carmoy victorious

Another Belgian headliner of the meeting, Thomas Carmoy won the high jump competition with 2.21m, not without having attempted 2.27m.

“Once the victory was achieved, I stopped at 2.24m, a bar that was useless, to try my season best and I didn’t miss much on the first attempt”, explains Carolo, the fourth European in Rome a few days ago. “Then I felt my ankle a little but everything is under control. The objective was to jump one last time before leaving for a training block in Malaga this Thursday morning, then there will be one or two more competitions and we will quickly be at the Games.”

Watrin s’amuse

In the 110m hurdles, Julien Watrin took fifth place in 13.87 (+1.2) and… having a lot more fun than in Heusden last Saturday.

”I didn’t want to seem too much of a killjoy but in fact I hadn’t been feeling too well and I left with a bit of a bitter taste”, explains Julien, who also admits to a little post-exam fatigue. “I do this for fun, and fortunately here the race was more successful. My support is correct, I was able to develop my running, I was in contact with others and so it was really something else in terms of pleasure. That was a real 110! I’m slowly starting to be legitimate. But I think I can do better, especially at the Belgian championships.”

Brothers assure

Anne Zagré, for her part, took third place in the 100m hurdles (without Noor Vidts) in 13.28 (+1.2). “I wanted to do better than this time but I’m not yet completely free after my injury, which is a shame. I will line up in Geneva on Saturday then at the Belgian championships.”

In the 100m, Rani Rosius had to settle for second place in 11.33 (+0.7). Among the men, Liégeois Antoine Snyders became the 7th Belgian performer in history, at the very beginning of the evening, with a superb time of 10.29 (+1.5).

In the 400m, Florent Mabille established his best performance of the year and the second time of his career in 45.83.

As for Ben Broeders, he secured his victory with a jump of 5.66m on the third attempt, then pleased the crowd by tackling his national record at 5.86m.

Mention, too, for Maxime Carabin who, during the 100m wheelers, established a world record in his category in 16.18 (+0.9 m/s), improving his best performance by seven hundredths: “It’s even more beautiful when it’s at home!”

End of season for Debjani?

Finally, in terms of bad news, we will remember that Ismaël Debjani (15th in the 1,500m in 3.46.60), suffering from the Achilles tendon since his last race in Nivelles, will very probably end his season. There will be no Olympic Games for the Belgian 1,500m record holder…