Brussels crowd propels Thiam to 1.92m, Broeders fourth in pole vault

Double Olympic heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam was honoured by the crowd alongside the other Belgian Olympians, but quickly had to scoot off to the high jump stand. Thiam showed she still had plenty of energy left, equalling her season's best 1.92m. Thiam was sixth on the night in a tough field that included all medal winners from Tokyo. 
 
Noor Vidts, fourth in the heptathlon in Tokyo, took part in the 100m hurdles, finishing seventh in a stacked field in 13.55, behind Anne Zagré (12.96).
 
In the pole vault Ben Broeders cleared 5.75m, after which he attacked his Belgian record with three attempts at 5.85m. That didn't happen, but Broeders still finished a strong fourth on the night.
 
In the 400 metres Belgian Tornados Alexander Doom (45.84) and Jonathan Sacoor (46.66) finished sixth and eighth respectively.
 
The women's race was a special Benelux edition with athletes from Belgium and the neighbouring Netherlands racing for bragging rights. Camille Laus handed Belgium the win in 52.34, her season's best performance, ahead of Dutchwomen Eveline Saalberg and Andrea Bouma. Paulien Couckuyt was fourth in 53.68.
 
The 800 metres in Brussels was not a Diamond race either, but boasted Tokyo silver medal winner Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich. Rotich won in 1:43.82, ahead of Belgium's Eliott Crestan (1:45.84). Aurele Vandeputte established a personal best in fourth, 1:45.49.
 
Elise Vanderelst tried to break the Belgian record on the mile, the 4:28.11 run by Almensh Belete in 2012. Vanderelst made a rapid start, but didn't manage to keep up the pace and finished in 4:32.44 in 12th place. Double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan dominated the race.
 
Ismael Debjani (3:43.08) and Jochem Vermeulen (3:53.36) didn't play a major part in the 1500m, finishing 11th and 12th respectively.
 
In the women's 200 metres Imke Vervaet and Rani Rosius got a chance to take on the world's best. Vervaet was sixth in 23.28, while Rosius finished eighth in 23.79.

In the men's long jump competition young talent Jente Hauttekeete also got a chance to rub shoulders with the greats. The European U20 decathlon champion and vice world champion finished ninth with a best effort of 7.18m.