Jonathan Borlee in Heusden (© Martin Laurent)
Twin brothers Jonathan en Kevin Borlée head the small but strong delegation of 12 Belgian athletes for the IAAF World Junior Championships. In 2006 they lowered their personal bests at 400m to 46.15 and 46.63 respectively.
Jonathan finished 5th at the World Youth Championships in Marrakesh in 2005 and continues his steep rise. Kevin was hardly less convincing as he beat his brother in most of their head to head races.
While their older sister Olivia Borlée hands the relay baton of the Belgian 4x100m squad in Gothenburg to Kim Gevaert, Jonathan and Kevin will prepare for their relay effort in China.
Arnaud Ghislain, the 2005 European Youth Olympic Festival 400m winner and 17-year-old Jens Panneel complete the elusive Belgian 4x400m team. Panneel smashed Jonathan Borlée’s U18 national record to 47.20 in 2006 and, along with the Borlée family, he is one of the great prospects of Belgian athletics.
Annelies Peetroons heads the European season rankings in the Discus Throw by a large margin. She threw a massive 54.10m in May in Halle (GER) and showed consistency throughout all her competitions. She wants to make it through to the final and challenge the Chinese favourites of the event.
Other Belgian hopes lie with Barbara Maveau, who was a bronze medal winner at the European U20 Championships in 2005 in the 3000m. Maveau worked a lot on speed endurance this year and boosted her confidence recently by running a 1500m personal best of 4:16.31.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
Men
200m: Jonathan Borlée (21.08), Arnout Matthijs (21.19)
400m: Jonathan Borlée (46.15), Kevin Borlée (46.63)
PV: Denis Goossens (5.16m), Wim Verelst (5.10m)
JT: Loïc Lemaitre (69.81m)
Decathlon: Jeremy Solot (7119)
4 x 400m: Jonathan Borlée, Kevin Borlée, Jens Panneel (47.20), Arnaud Ghislain (47.85), Arnaud Destatte (48.24)
Women
3000m: Barbara Maveau (9:19.29)
DT: Annelies Peetroons (54.10m)
