Jolien Vermeylen crowned European sprint triathlon champion
Jolien Vermeylen was crowned European Sprint Triathlon Champion on Saturday. Competing in Melilla, a Spanish exclave in northern Morocco, the 31-year-old from Antwerp completed the 750 m swim, 20 km cycle and 5 km run in 57 minutes and 32 seconds.
She exited the water in second place, joining a lead group of around ten athletes during the cycling leg before pulling away decisively on the run. Italy’s Bianca Seregni finished ten seconds behind to take silver, while Germany’s Franka Rust claimed bronze, thirteen seconds behind the winner. Nele Dequae finished 29th overall (14th in the U23 category), while Rhune Vansteenkiste finished 34th (19th in the U23 category).
The Belgian athletes were less prominent in the men’s race. Italy’s Alessio Crociani won gold in 51:58, ahead of Israel’s Shachar Sagiv and Norway’s Sebastian Wernersen. The top Belgian finisher, Ibe Baelde, came 21st overall, placing 13th among the U23s. Joris Basslé finished 30th and Erwin Vanderplancken finished 36th.
The mixed relay, in which the Belgian team consists of Jolien Vermeylen, Ibe Baelde, Nele Dequae and Joris Basslé, is scheduled for today.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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