On Wednesday 12 July, Belgium’s top athletics and international stars make their appearance at the Province Naimette Arena for the 21st edition of the Meeting International d’Athlétisme de la Province de Liège. Eliott Crestan and Camille Laus attack the 21-year-old Belgian record in the 600 metres, Thomas Carmoy takes on two former world champions in the high jump. The audience will also be treated to a double performance by Nafi Thiam, who will compete in both the 100-metre hurdles and the long jump.
Two Belgian records on the same track in one evening? It happened 21 years ago at the Meeting International d’Athlétisme de la Province de Liège and it might just happen again on 12 July. Eliott Crestan will hunt for Joeri Jansen’s BR in the 600 metres. Crestan, who took bronze in the 800 metres at this year’s European Indoor Championships, needs to run faster than 1’15″35 to do so. The presence of Kenyan Ferguson Rotich, silver in the 800 metres at the Tokyo Olympics, could give Crestan an extra boost.
Camille Laus also dreams of a record race in the 600 metres. To improve the Belgian record run by Sandra Stals in Liège in 2002, she will have to do better than 1’25″91. Cynthia Bolingo, the poster girl of the Meeting International d’Athlétisme de la Province de Liège and, like Laus, a Belgian Cheetah, will run the 400 metres on 12 July. In the men’s event, Belgian Tornados Alexander Doom and Robin Vanderbemden will start.
Reigning Olympic and world heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam chose Liège for the 100-metre hurdles – in which she will compete against Anne Zagré, among others – and the long jump. In the men’s high jump, two former world champions draw present: Ukrainian Bohdan Bondarenko and Bahamian Donald Thomas. Can Thomas Carmoy, bronze at the last European Indoor Championships, ensure a Belgian success in this strong international field? Pole vaulter Ben Broeders will also have to compete against a former world champion: German Raphael Holzdeppe.
Other Belgians who will make their appearance at the 21st Meeting International d’Athlétisme de la Province de Liège include Rani Rosius (100 metres), Nolan Vancauwemberghe (110 metres hurdles), François Graillet (110 metres hurdles), Pieter-Jan Hannes (3000 metres steeple), Rémi Schyns (3000 metres steeple) and Dries Van Nieuwenhove (400 metres hurdles). Liège resident and paralympic topper Roger Habsch is also not to be missed in the Province Naimette Arena. Habsch starts as top favourite in the 100 metres for wheelers.
Tickets are available for free download until Tuesday 11 July or will be on sale on Wednesday 12 July from 4pm at 10 euros each at the main entrance of the Province Naimette Arena.
