European Athletics Championships: Belgium finish tournament with six medals
Belgium's Jochem Vermeulen won an impressive silver medal in the 1,500m at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Wednesday. The 25-year-old ran a personal best of 3:33.30. Teammate Ruben Verheyden also did excellently, but fell just short of the podium in fourth place with a personal best time of 3:33.40.
Vermeulen's medal came as a surprise. On Monday, he finished eighth in the second qualifying heat, in a time of 3:40.21, but was hampered by a fall involving other athletes. After a complaint from the Belgian federation, he was put through to the final.
Verheyden qualified thanks to third place in the first heat, in 3:44.19. The 23-year-old just missed out on a medal on Wednesday. However, like Vermeulen, his time means he has qualified for the Olympics next month.
As expected, the title went to Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in a championship record of 3:31.95. It is the his third consecutive European 1,500m title.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, the men's and women's 4x400m relay teams secured Belgium's fourth and fifth medals, following success by Nafi Thiam, Noor Vidts, Alexander Doom and Jonathan Sacoor.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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