Hosts Belgium have named a strong team to contest the European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven on 12-13 April, peppered with athletes rich in major event experience.
The last time Belgian hosted a major international championship, was the Brussels 2023 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, an occasion that lifted the home athletes to greater deeds, winning the senior men’s team title and the senior women earning bronze.
Multiple medallist Kimeli named
Among the gold winning men’s team at Brussels 2023 was Isaac Kimeli, who placed 11th. He is entered for the men’s 10km race and as a European indoor 3000m silver medallist (Torun 2021) and twice individual European cross country medallist (silver, Tilburg 2018; bronze Turin 2022), he has the pedigree to challenge again.
The women’s 10km team will be spearheaded by Jana Van Lent, who was fifth in the senior women’s race at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships and 11th in the 10,000m at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
She will be joined by the experienced Lisa Rooms, who was sixth in the senior women’s race at Brussels 2023. Chloé Herbiet, 10th in the 10,000m at Roma 2024 spearheads the women’s half marathon team.
Belgium have named a full quota of 36 athletes across the championships with the 10km and half marathon selections on Friday (28) adding the marathon selections named in February.
Entries are still open for the inaugural European Running Championships, where recreational runners will have the opportunity to run with the elite athletes. Limited places are still available across 10km, half marathon and marathon disciplines.
