Morning session with Belgian brilliance in Paris. There are two compatriots in the 5000m final. John Heymans and Isaac Kimeli both surprised with strong thirds in their series. Elliot Christan continued that momentum and dominated the 800m. Less bad news was reserved for high jumper Thomas Karmoy and the other Belgians.
“This is really crazy!”
The joy on the faces of John Heymans and Isaac Kimeli speaks volumes. In the 5000m, the Belgians pulled off a bit of a gamble when they finished third in their heat for the final.
Heymans did it thanks to a “perfectly executed race plan” in 14’08’33, and Kimeli showed himself fresh as a fiddle with a time of 13’52’18.
Elliot Christian followed this good example in the 800m race.
The best Belgian runner on this track started from lane 1 in the first round. A record that Christian will not give up.
Our compatriot was in front from start to finish. He was constantly looking over his shoulder and controlling. He crossed the finish line in control of the race with a time of 1’45’51, the eighth fastest time of all competitors. This bodes well for the semi-finals.
Thibaut De Smet and Peter Ciesek also tried to reach the front of the heats, but failed after 800 metres. Ciesek in particular is disappointed, “because I only made 4 tenths and I was disconnected.” Both Belgians have to go to the return legs.
Amidst all the running, Tomas Karmoy was trying to qualify for the Olympic high jump final.
Karmoi opened smoothly at 2.15m. He needed two attempts to get 5cm higher. Finally his adventure ended at 2.24m, because he broke his ankle on his first attempt. For example, he is not in the final, unlike Olympic champions Tampere and Bersham.
Although the latter still required some effort. Tampere had been suffering from kidney stones just before the Games and was clearly not feeling fully fit yet. Suddenly his Qatari teammate developed a calf cramp. Fortunately without serious consequences.
Elise Vanderelst was allowed to complete the morning session for the Belgian team in the 1500m relay.
A top-three finish was the goal, but it soon became clear that this was too ambitious. Vanderelst was back in seventh after two fast final laps and was eliminated.
Related:
End of morning session
Some great performances from the Belgians to remember in the morning session. Our compatriots showed great results, especially in the 5000m and 800m.
Vandrelst has been eliminated.
Vanderlust was eliminated.
Elise Vanderlust was unable to keep up with the high pace in the final laps. She finished seventh in the repechage with a time of 4’08’86 and was disqualified.
Vanderelst picks up a spot behind Britain’s Walker Nolan. She hopes to be able to control the race from the second row.
Elise Vanderlust has her last chance to reach the semi-finals
Elise Vanderlust is the last Belgian to take part in this morning session. She must finish in the top three in her 1500m heat to qualify for the semi-finals. So the motto is to make good weather a priority.
Watch Peter Cesk’s response:
Sisk is also looking for second chances.
Also keen to try again
He hesitated for a moment and looked for a hole but couldn’t find one. Cesc started his 800m hole. Push and pull? He couldn’t agree with that. The newcomer came in sixth in his series with a time of 1’46’60. That included a ticket to the repechage.
Finally, Peter Cesk at 800 meters.
Olympic debut for Peter Cissek. The last Belgian in the 800m runs in Series 4, Track 3.
See Thibaut de Smet’s response:
This is called Second Chances.
This is called Second Chances.
The last half lap was too much. Tibo De Smet struggled to get into the top three of his series. But on the last corner and the straight he no longer had any excess. Result: 7th place in 1’46’33 and retake.
Tibo De Smet shows
Second Belgian (of three) in the 800m. Tibo De Smet leaves in lane 4 to secure a place in the semi-finals.
Check out Elliot Christian’s response:
Christian wins 800m
Christian the tyrant!
Elliot Christian wins the 800m. The Belgian crosses the finish line first in 1:45″51. He dominated the race from start to finish. He could reach the semi-finals.
Elliot Christian’s role
In heat 1 of the 800m, it’s up to Elliot Christian to prove himself. He’s running in lane 1. Can he continue his good form – he set his personal best this year?
Check out Isaac Kimely’s response:
Kimeli also to the final!
Kimili is also impressive!
All the time in 9th place, but with a fiery final race, Isaac Kimeli rolls his opponents over. He looks over his shoulder and feels: I’m in the final. Our compatriot finished third in his series, just like Heymans. There are two Belgians in the final!
With two laps to go, Kimeli is moving forward. She’s going faster and faster. Can the Belgian continue his flirtation with the top eight?
cramps in breech
Watch the interview with John Heymans:
Is Isaac following Kimili?
It is up to Isaac Kimeli to follow the good example of his compatriot. Can we dream of having two Belgians in the 5000m final?
Karmoy also failed on his third attempt at 2.24 metres.
Heymans could reach the final on Saturday!
Fist in the air on Heymans!
He looks back several times and can hardly believe it. The Belgian crosses the finish line in third place after a turbulent finish to the 5000m, including a fall on the last lap. They all stayed ahead of John Heymans due to their excellent positioning. He could go to the final on Saturday!
Lots of pulling and pushing. It’s a tense 5000m race, because qualification is still possible for everyone.
Ellen Bearings
Karmoy also failed to hit the bar on his second attempt at 2.24 metres.
Even with his second attempt at 2.24 metres, Tomas Karmoy did not hit the bar. There is still another chance at this height.
With 4 laps to go, John Heymans comes to the front. The Belgian has spent most of the time in the belly of the pack during the race. Now he hopes to hold off the rising guns.
John Heymans in 5000m
John Heymans flexes his muscles. The Belgian is looking forward to his 5000m series. The goal? Be in the top 8 to reach the finals.
Carmoy failed at 2.24m
Karmoy also failed his first attempt with a distance of 2.24 meters. Success for the second time?
In the second attempt, a prize for Karmoy.
The Belgian won the prize on his second attempt. Karmoy follows in the footsteps of fellow Olympic champion Barshim and completes the 2.20m mark.
Karmoy did not clear 2.20 metres on his first attempt.
Less success for Karmoi at 2.20m. He misses the bar on his first attempt. The brilliant Italian Tampere succeeds.
Karmoy starts with a flawless 2.15m jump.
Tomas Karmoy opens his competition with a clear jump of 2.15 metres.
There are some doubts about the Olympic champion Tampere. His preparations were not without injuries and he also had to deal with kidney stones just before the Games.
David Nairt
The high jump competitions will start soon. The qualifying bar for the final has been set at 2.29 metres. This is Karmooy’s personal best, so the Belgian will have to better himself or join the top 12.
Live broadcast at 10 am
Fear not, athletics fans. You won’t miss any of the Belgian action on the slopes this morning either. From 10am there will be images and sounds – with the voices of David Naert and Elaine Berings – from Paris.
Wash away your bad day?
The Belgians hope to shake off yesterday’s bad day with a new sparkle. Thomas Carmoy He hopes to present the first in the high jump series. After that, we have to look forward to our compatriots in the 5000m and 800m races, among others. Elliot Christian. Elise Vanderlust concludes the morning session with a re-run of the 1500m.
At 400m, many experts were already seeing that things weren’t looking good for Doom.
Peter Jan Hans
There will be no Olympic 400m final for Alexander Daum. Unfortunately, the European champion fell injured in the semi-final. There will also be no Belgian in the 400m hurdles final. Naomi van den Broeck, Hanne Claes and Pauline Coquette died in the semi-final. Relive the Belgians’ evening session.
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