Belgian Athletics Championships: 11 athletes and a relay virtually qualified for the Paris Olympic Games thanks to their world ranking

It is this Sunday, June 30, on the evening of the second day of the Belgian athletics championships, that the qualification period for the Paris Olympic Games will end. In other words: the minimums achieved this weekend will be accepted but then it will be too late!

Only the rankings will allow those who have not achieved the required performances to gain their place on the Eurostar for the French capital.

The Borlée brothers are preparing for Montpellier with their big sister Olivia to supervise them: “They know exactly what they have to do”

And there could be many of them (between 11 and 18, without forgetting the women’s 4x100m) to reach Paris thanks to this second qualification route. Let’s see this in detail.

21 qualified individuals

To date, 21 athletes (14 men and 7 women) have already qualified individually for the Paris Olympics, as have our three 4x400m relay teams.

Victorious in Madrid, Eliott Crestan finally obtains his Olympic qualification in the 800m!

These are the following athletes:

Alexander Doom (400m)
Jonathan Sacoor (400m)
Eliott Crestan (800m)
Pieter Sisk (800m)
Tibo De Smet (800m)
Jochem Vermeulen (1500m)
Ruben Verheyden (1500m)
Isaac Kimeli (5000m)
John Heymans (5000m)
Michael Obasuyi (110m h.)
Ben Broeders (perch)
Bashir Abdi (marathon)
Koen Naert (marathon)
Michael Somers (marathon)
Cynthia Bolingo (400m)
Naomi Van den Broeck (400m)
Hanne Claes (400m h.)
Nafi Thiam (heptathlon)
Noor Vidts (heptathlon)
Chloé Herbiet (marathon)
Hanne Verbruggen (marathon)

Concern ahead of the Games for Chloé Herbiet, who fears a stress fracture

Rankings: 11 athletes in a favorable position

On the eve of the Belgian championships, 11 athletes are virtually qualified for the Games thanks to their world ranking. Some like Rani Rosius or Thomas Carmoy can sleep soundly, given that there is no longer any risk of them being dislodged (the second, who left for an internship, will not be present).

Thanks to his good performances in recent months, Elie Bacari is almost certain to be on the trip to Paris.

Others will have to ensure that they strengthen their ranking by combining a good place with the best possible performance.

Here are these athletes and their current ranking in relation to the number of places available:

Dylan Borlée (46th/48th) – 400m
Elie Bacari (33e/40) – 110m h.
Thomas Carmoy (10th/32) – height
Philip Milanov (27th/32) – disc
Timothy Herman (26e/32) – javelot
Rani Rosius (30e/56) – 100m
Delphine Nkansa (40e/56) – 100m
Helena Ponette (41e/48) – 400m
Elise Vanderelst (35e/45) – 1500m
Paulien Couckuyt (32nd/40) – 400m h.
Vanessa Sterckendries (28e/32) – marteau

“I never thought I would run 10.10 over 100m, it’s crazy!”: professional engineer, former hurdler, who is the sprinter Simon Verherstraeten?

What about the 4x100m relay?

The Belgian Falcons, the name given to our men’s relay, did not improve their reference time (38.55) last week in Geneva. They will therefore not join the top 16 teams qualified for the Olympics.

The Belgian Rockets hope for good news quickly.

The Belgian Rockets still occupy 16th place in this particular ranking, as the second qualified nation in time (42.85). Our torchbearers remain under threat during this national championship weekend but are betting that they will no longer be overtaken.

They still have hope

For the moment failed, several athletes can still hope to gain places in the ranking and qualify at the last minute for the Games. But in most cases, it would be a miracle and it would take a combination of very favorable circumstances to see the doors of the Olympic Village open…