At the Antalya cross-country Euro, Belgium dreams of new exploits: “If everyone runs at their level, medals are possible”

“During a meeting with team leader Rik Didden, it was said that we wanted to remain ambitious and assume our status forged in 2023 while knowing that it will undoubtedly be difficult to do betterexplains one of the coaches, Thomas Vandormael. I think there might be a way to grab something in the mixed relay. As for our female representatives, it would be a second achievement if they managed to get on the podium again.”

“We ran for all the women who could not participate in a Euro”: the cry of Lisa Rooms after the 3rd place of the Belgian women’s team

Behind Lisa Rooms and Jana Van Lent, who will try to finish as high as possible in the ranking, it will be a question of seeing where the third athlete scoring points for the collective between Victoria Warpy and Roxane Cleppe will be. Unfortunately, Chloé Herbiet, ninth last year, failed to qualify.

“She is obviously complaining a little bit because she has, in theory, clearly her place in the delegation and the race on Sunday promises to be relatively open but she suffered, on the worst day, a sort of repercussion from our training at altitudeindicates his trainer. But the important thing, after the Olympics where she lined up weakened, was to rebuild herself step by step, to lay new foundations for the future and in particular with a view to the European road championships which are taking place in Belgium at the month. of April.”

Among the men, our three strongest representatives will indeed be there with, at the head of the procession, Isaac Kimeli who has already been in the box twice (silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022) but failed last year while he would have seen himself winning a first European title in the absence of the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Which is initially announced this year!

“In my opinion, it was less the course than the pressure that finally caught up with him at home that relegated Isaac to 11th place that daybelieves Thomas Vandormael. It is indeed quite capable of doing well on muddy terrain.”

Cross-country Euro in Brussels: Robin Hendrix wins the bronze medal, Belgium gold in the team rankings!

John Heymans, excellent sixth last year, and Robin Hendrix, whose form does not seem as sparkling as twelve months ago, will try to bring the necessary points to the team (completed by Nicolaï Saké) to regain the highest step of the podium.

“Both John, who recently suffered from a small virus but is in very good shape, and Isaac seem to me to be in a position to fight for individual medals. If each of the athletes runs at their level, a medal with the team is clearly possible.”

Ziad Audah is the only survivor of the mixed quartet which placed fifth at Laeken Park in 2023. The one who this time welcomes Tibaut Vandelannoote, Eline Dalemans and Mariska Parewyck alongside him, is one of the five athletes selected for the Antalya Euro coached by Thomas Vandormael with the Frenchman Antoine Senard, the Belgian-Luxembourger Ruben Querinjean (“the youngest of the participants”), who opted for the second nationality, relay reservist Maxime Delvoie and junior Juliette Secretin. A great performance for the young coach who will celebrate his 37th birthday this Monday!

Jakob Ingebrigtsen for a third title?

After two consecutive successes in Dublin (2021) and Turin (2022), Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the favorite for the men’s event on Sunday at the Euro. The Norwegian, who injured his Achilles tendon last year, will however have to be wary of the outgoing champion Yann Schrub, the Spaniard Thierry Ndikumwenayo and the Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa, all competitors who will also try to block the way to Isaac Kimeli and John Heymans. Among the women, the withdrawal of the Norwegian Karoline Grøvdal, three-time defending champion, could well benefit the Italian Nadia Battocletti. This will have to keep an eye on the German Konstanze Klosterhalfen and the Turkish Yasemin Can.

The Belgian selection

MEN

• Elites: Isaac Kimeli, John Heymans, Robin Hendrix and Nicolaï Saké.
• Hopes U23 : Noah Konteh, Tristan Gevaert, Mathis Lievens and Robbe Theeuwes.
• U20 messieurs: Sem Serrano. Willem Renders, Daan Lievens and Hugo Jeukenne.

WOMEN

• Elites : Jana Van Lent, Lisa Rooms, Victoria Warpy et Roxane Cleppe.
• Hopes U23: Juliette Voet, Yana Pauwelyn, Charlotte Van Laethem and Emma D’Haene.
• U20 ladies: Juliette Secretin, Charlotte Penneman, Nina Van Pelt and Hannah Enkels.

MIXED

• Relay: Eline Dalemans, Mariska Parewyck, Tibaut Vandelannoote and Ziad Audah (reserves: Maxim Delvoie and Marie Bilo).