Hellebaut and Borlée family excel at Belgium Indoor Champs

Tia Hellebaut who finished sixth in the World High Jump final in Helsinki last summer qualified for the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Moscow, Russia (10 – 12 March 2006) by jumping 1.92m at the Belgian national championships on Sunday (19). Hardly ten minutes later she produced a 6.36m long jump which equalled the national record.

“I wanted to qualify for the World Championships Pentathlon, but I had three fouls in the long jump two weeks ago,” confirmed the 28-year-old who was fifth at the Pentathlon at the last World Indoors in 2004. “That disturbed me a lot, because I felt I was in good shape. I hope there is more to come in the High Jump next week at the KBC Flanders Indoor in Gent. The Long Jump record actually came as a big surprise, I didn’t even know what the record was.”

Borlée family dominate

European junior champion Eline Berings set a personal best of 8.17 in the 60m Hurdles but the story of the day was written by the Borlée family. 20-year-old Olivia won the 200m in 23.82, and twin brothers Jonathan and Kevin took the titles in the men’s 200m and 400m respectively. Kevin Borlée set a national junior record of 46.87 on the 400m, beating down Cedric Van Branteghem into second. His twin brother Jonathan triumphed in the 200m and crossed the finish in 21.43. The succesful family is coached by their father Jacques Borlée, a former 45.4 national 400m champion.

The 60m dash titles were taken by Anthony Ferro (6.69) and youngster Frauke Penen (7.43) respectively. Jonathan Nsenga was the fastest hurdler in 7.74 and Gert Messiaen produced the best men’s Long Jump of the day with 7.59m.

Dutch indoors

At the Dutch Championships on Saturday (18) - also held in Gent -  Laurens Looije cleared 5.65m in the Pole Vault, while Gregory Sedoc was the fastest hurdler in 7.68, and 2005 World Championships silver medallist Rutger Smith won the Shot Put with 19.89m. Caimin Douglas was the fastest sprinter in the 60m heats (6.69), but Guus Hoogmoed won the final. Esther Dankwah was the best Dutch female performer of the day. She won the 60m in 7.38.

Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF