Final World Ranking earns Belgium seven extra places for World Championships
World Athletics has released its final update of the World Ranking, confirming the full list of athletes eligible to compete in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. Belgium has been awarded an additional seven spots, bringing its total number of individual competitors to 26.
Nineteen Belgians had already secured their place by meeting the direct qualifying standard. Now, seven more have joined them by achieving the top 36 position in the qualifying rankings.
New qualifiers
Rani Rosius (100m)
Imke Vervaet (200m)
Ilona Masson (triple jump)
John Heymans (5,000m)
Elie Bacari (110m hurdles)
Jente Hauttekeete (decathlon)
Thomas Carmoy (high jump)
Jana Van Lent, who had already qualified for the 5,000m, has also qualified for the 10,000m.
Existing qualifiers
The rest of the Belgian team is made up of Nafi Thiam (heptathlon), Elise Vanderelst (1,500m and 5,000m), Paulien Couckuyt and Naomi Van den Broeck (400m hurdles), Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck (100m hurdles), Merel Maes (high jump) and Elien Vekemans (pole vault), Daniel Segers (400m), Alexander Doom (400m), Pieter Sisk (800m and 1,500m), Eliott Crestan (800m), Jochem Vermeulen and Ruben Verheyden (1,500m), Isaac Kimeli (5,000m), Michael Obasuyi (110m hurdles), Tim Van de Velde (3,000m steeplechase), Koen Naert (marathon) and Ben Broeders (pole vault).
All five of the Belgian relay teams will compete in Tokyo: the men’s and women’s 4x100m, and the men's, women's and mixed 4x400m team.
Heptathlete Noor Vidts and marathon runner Bashir Abdi had also qualified, but withdrew due to injury.
Pinnacle of outdoor athletics
Held every two years, the World Athletics Championships are the premier global track and field competition organised by World Athletics, formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF.
Alongside the Olympic Games, the championships represent the pinnacle of senior outdoor athletics. They cover disciplines such as sprints, middle- and long-distance races, jumps, throws, the marathon and race walking.
This year's event takes place in Tokyo from 13-21 September.
World Athletics also organises separate world championships for specific disciplines, including cross-country running, half-marathons, indoor athletics and youth and junior categories.
© BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS
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