Unfortunately the Belgian Cheetahs were unable to imitate them and were sent to the repechage round which will take place this Sunday, the same fate being reserved for our men's and women's 4x100m relays, both disqualified in the series.
Chronologically, it was the mixed relay which immediately produced the first good performance of the day. Well launched by Jonathan Sacoor (the only athlete who would run two races in the evening), author of a time of 45.27, Imke Vervaet only lost command at the very end of the course (52.07) before Christian Iguacel ( 45.11) does not attack Ireland.
In a three-way battle, we will finally have to wait for Camille Laus to pull out all the stops in the home straight (50.73) in order to hold off the British Laviai Nielsen and secure, in 3.13.18, second qualifying place. for the Olympics behind Ireland (3.12.50). Belgium, which set the fourth fastest time among the countries entered, will be able to defend its chances in the final this Sunday.
The 4x100m relays, for their part, must have been disillusioned, being disqualified due to passing the baton outside the zone provided for this purpose. The women's team made up of Rani Vincke, Rani Rosius, Elise Mehuys and Delphine Nkansa finished sixth in their series in 43.96, after two transmissions leaving something to be desired, before seeing their time canceled.
The men's team, with Kobe Vleminckx, Ward Merckx, Antoine Snyders and Valentijn Hoornaert, for its part lost any chance of doing well (they were fighting for 4th place) when the last two torchbearers failed to find themselves at entering the final straight. Or, at least, not in time because Belgium did indeed finish the race, for form's sake, before being disqualified.
For these two young teams, the Belgian Rockets and the Belgian Falcons, it will be a matter of quickly turning the page and restoring order to the handover: this Sunday, they will in fact have a second opportunity to qualify. for the Olympics during the repechage. To do this, you will have to aim for one of the first two places again.
Unhappy Cheetahs
This will also be the objective of the Belgian Cheetahs, who were represented in the heats by Naomi Van den Broeck (52.19), Hanne Claes (52.70), Liefde Schoemaker (52.27) and Helena Ponette (50.03).
Unfortunately, our torchbearers came across a surprising team from Norway (3.26.89, national record) which deprived them of second place behind the United States, comfortable winners in 3.24.76.
After a final attack from Ponette on Jaeger, Belgium finished third in 3.27.19. Not the dream scenario but nothing is lost for the Cheetahs.
Tornados: another final
Finally, the Belgian Tornados brilliantly concluded this first contrasting day for our country. Dylan Borlée (45.66), the only one of the three brothers able to run in the series, directly put the team into orbit, offering Robin Vanderbemden a first place and a small advantage that the Liégeois (45.16) would manage perfectly.
Chased by competitors seeking to get closer, Jonathan Sacoor then delivered a great number (44.43) to allow Belgium to breathe and Alexander Doom to have a nice margin of safety.
The 400m indoor world champion was then able to complete his race very calmly and enjoy, in the last meters, the qualification a thousand times deserved for Jacques Borlée's troops.
Who, after having set the third time of the entrants (3.00.09), will therefore try to get involved again in the fight for the medals in the final, Sunday, at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium. Having reached the podium twice already in the history of this competition, why not dream of a new medal?
