In the Men’s competition all eyes were set on the two best all time Belgian vaulters Ben Broeders and Arnaud Art. Two Dutchmen Rutger Koppelaar and Timo De Water provided the challenge as well as German Daniel Clemens.
De Water was the first to jump and to set new seasonal best. German Clemens was also happy to set a new seasonal best when clearing 5,32m on his third attempt. However, Arnaud Art seemed to be struggling with his form. The young Belgian recently crossed a bar at 5,70m, but failed to cross 5,52m in Brussels. The duel went on between Broeders and Koppelaar. The energetic Dutchman operated smoothly and had no failures until the bar was raised to 5,62m. The Koppelaar had three unsuccesful tries. Broeders was the only athlete to cross 5,62m. He then had three unsuccesful attempts at the Belgian national record.
Four women in second place
Ten women turned up for the Women’s event at the Urban Memorial Van Damme. Amongst them also Belgian record holder Fanny Smets. Pre competition favourites were American Megan Clark and Dutchwoman Killiana Heymans. Clark already jumped 4,56m this year while Heymans has good chances to qualify for the World Championships in Doha. Germans Katharina Bauer and Stefanie Dauber were two outsiders to count with. Chloe Henry, Aurélie De Ryck, Jade Vigneron, Mélanie Vissers and Hanne Borstlap were the other contenders.
Early in the competition it was clear that five women stood out. Bauer, Clark, Heymans, Smets and Dauber all went over 4,26m. For Aurélie De Ryck and for Katharina Bauer these meant seasonal best performances. However Bauer, Heymans, Smets and Dauber all four failed to cross 4,36m. Megan Clark was the only athlete to clear 4,36m. She then tried to set a seasonal best but that didn’t work out. But the American wins the Urban Memorial Van Damme Women’s Pole Vault.
Vanlangenaker confirms
Schoolchildren came to support Jules Vanlangenaker. At the European Youth Olympic Festival Vanlangenaker was a bronze medal winner. In the students category in Brussels he competed against Gilles Ory. Pierre Straet and Martin Reip.
Vanlangenaker won the event with an effort of 4,61 and then failed to cross 4,81m.. Then Vanlangenaker tried to jump 4m81.
