On Wednesday 15 July, the Province Naimette Arena will once again be packed for the biggest track and field event in the south of the country. As is tradition, the Liège crowd will be treated to a fine mix of a broad international field of competitors and the Belgian athletics elite.
The highlight this year is the return of multiple Olympic and World Champion Nafi Thiam, who will be in action in the long jump in front of her enthusiastic home crowd. In addition, the 600 metres is set to provide a thrilling spectacle: both Eliott Crestan and Camille Laus will be aiming to break the Belgian record. Tibo De Smet will also be at the start.
The Belgian delegation is also strongly represented across the board. In the 400-metre hurdles, the young Mimoun Abdoul Wahab will be joined by experienced Belgian Tornado Julien Watrin. European half marathon Champion Chloé Herbiet will line up for the 5,000 metres.
The new rising star Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck will be in action in the 100-metre hurdles, Rani Rosius and Rani Vincke will compete in the 100 metres, and Robin Vanderbemden will start in the 400 metres. In the field events, Jef Vermeiren (high jump) and Ben Broeders (pole vault) will be competing for the prizes.
Another standout figure is the Slovenian Klara Lukan, who has held the European record for the 10 km road race since 18 April. With a time of 29:50, she is the first European woman ever to break the magical 30-minute barrier. Lukan will be running the 5,000 metres in Liège. Also taking part are Ferguson Rotich (Olympic silver medallist in the 800m in Tokyo) and Noelie Yarigo (bronze medallist at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow).
“We are extremely proud to be able to host an international meeting of this scale in the Province of Liège, bringing together world-class athletes and offering free admission to everyone,” says Katty Firquet, Provincial Councillor and President responsible for Sport.
“This provincial facility perfectly illustrates our ambition to make sport accessible to as wide an audience as possible: it hosts top athletes all year round, whilst remaining open to the public free of charge. As well as the sporting spectacle, we also want to inspire the younger generation. The pre-meeting, where young athletes get the chance to warm up side by side with the top sporting stars, is a wonderful example of this,” concludes Katty Firquet.
