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News - 16.09.2011

A world year best meeting

The 2011 Belgacom Memorial Van Damme 2011 was a grand cru one. Bolt and Blake dominated their sprint races, Chicherova nearly reeled in a world record. The Belgian brothers Borlée could not be beaten in the 400 meter.

 

This time Jonathan won, Kevin was second. (picture belga)

The 10,000 meter saw a return of  Kenenisa Bekele who had suffered from injuries. The race started really fast and very soon it was clear it could head for a world year best.

Bekele sprinted towards the finish and managed a time of 26:43.18, a world year best. The Kenyan Rotich claimed second and managed a personal best. Bekele was pleased to be able to run injure-free. "Since the world championships I have been training on speed ", Bekele said. "I used to have difficulty with the changes in speed, but I was able to digest those much easier now."

In the shot put Reese Hoffa won with a throw of 22m09, two centimeter ahead of his fellow American Christian Cantwell. In the 100 meter for women Carmelita Jeter confirmed her world title. In a time of 10.78, the third best this year, she advanced Veronica Campbell-Brown.

THE BIG USAIN BOLT SHOW

Then the big Usain Bolt show started. After having missed out on his sprint in Deagu, the Jamaican wanted to conclude his season on a high note. His 9"76 not only was meeting record, but also a world year best. Yohan Blake, the world champion at the 100 meter, only took part in the 200 meter. With a time of 19.26, he too pulverised a meeting record and a world year best.

BORLEE ONE AND TWO

The Belgian highlight of the evening was by the brother Borlée. In a thrilling 400m Jonathan beat Kevin. Jo also put in a season's best: 44.78. Kevin managed 44.97. Bladerunner Oscar Pistorius claimed third.

In the high jump for women Blanka Vlasic did not have the best of meetings. With 1m93 only she finished fifth. world champion  Anna Chicherova concluded the event with an impressive series. Until 1m99 she managed to remain flawless. Towards the end the Russian even eyed the world record, but she failed only just. Yelena Slesarenko claimed second there.

The 2011 Belgacom Memorial was a meeting packed with top level performances, great weather and by tradition a sublime audience. 

 

 

Belgacom Memorial Van Damme results
Men
10000m:
1. Kenenisa Bekele (Eth) 26:43.16
2. Lucas Kimeli Rotich (Ken) 26:43.98
3. Galen Rupp (VSt) 26:48.00
4. Emmanuel Kipkemei Bett (Ken) 26:51.95
5. Eliud Kipchoge (Ken) 26:53.27
6. Geoffrey Kirui (Ken) 26:55.73
7. Titus Kipjumba Mbishei (Ken) 26:59.81
8. Paul Lonyangata (Ken) 27:21.62
9. Mike Kipruto Kigen (Ken) 27:30.53
10. Denis Masai (Ken) 27:32.97
11. Josphat Kipkoech Bett (Ken) 27:57.60

Shot put (Diamond League):
1. Reese Hoffa (VSt) 22m09
2. Christian Cantwell (VSt) 22m07
3. Andrey Mikhnevich (WRu) 21m56
4. Dylan Armstrong (Can) 21m47
5. Ryan Whiting (VSt) 21m19
6. Tomasz Majewski (Pol) 21m15
7. Marco Fortes (Por) 19m83
8. Pavel Lyzhyn (WRu) 19m76

400 meter against the clock:
1. Stef Vanhaeren 47.28
2. Tim Rummens 48.03
3. Nils Duerinck 48.22
4. Jente Bouckaert 49.02
5. Dylan Borlée 49.02

Women
100m (Diamond League):
1. Carmelita Jeter (VSt) 10.78
2. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jam) 10.85
3. Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Tri) 10.90
4. Shalonda Solomon (VSt) 11.08
5. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (Bah) 11.30
6. Ezinne Okparaebo (Noo) 11.32
7. Mikele Barber (VSt) 11.33
8. Mariya Ryemyen (Oek) 11.33
9. Jeanette Kwakye (GBr) 11.60

Triple jump (Diamond League):
1. Olha Saladukha (Oek) 14m67
2. Mabel Gay (Cub) 14m58
3. Olga Rypakova (Kaz) 14m49
4. Yamilé Aldama (GBr) 14m29
5. Simona La Mantia (Ita) 14m27
6. Dana Veldakova (Slk) 14m07
7. Anna Kuropatkina (Rus) 13m53
8. Malgorzata Trybanska (Pol) 13m21

Discus (Diamond League):
1. Yanfeng Li (Chn) 66m27
2. Yarelis Barrios (Cub) 65m33
3. Zaneta Glanc (Pol) 62m78
4. Jian Tan (Chn) 61m64
5. Stéphanie Brown-Trafton (VSt) 60m82
6. Nadine Müller (Dui) 59m50
7. Aretha Thurmond (VSt) 59m01
8. Kateryna Karsak (Oek) 58m24