Both Claes and Couckuyt held a successful repetition in the King Baudouin Stadium last weekend at the Belgian championships. With a time of 55:36 Claes took the Belgian title and a ticket for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Couckuyt took silver in 55:46 zilver and also secured qualification for the Doha world championships, with Claes already qualified.
Belgian’s two leading hurdles athletes are ambitious for Friday's AG Memorial Van Damme. The 400 metre hurdles is a promotional event, with the IAAF Diamond League final having taken place last weekend in Zurich. “I hope to go a little bit faster than at the Belgian championships,” said Claes. “That was a good race, but far from perfect. I would like to take one fewer step between the sixth and seventh hurdle, which is a big time difference. Just like at the Belgian championships I hope Paulien and I will be able to push each other on. It’s good to have competition, it makes us push each other to faster times."
“For me it will be my first time competing at the Memorial,” 22-year-old Couckuyt added. “As a child I came here every year to watch the event. It gave me a kick to watch the world’s best athletes compete. My favourite part was heading down the stands to give the stars a high five. I also had an autograph book. I’m sure meeting director Cedric Van Branteghem is in it!"
Hanne Claes is also an ambassador for Plan International, which intensively collaborates with the AG Memorial Van Damme and supports the Equal Rights Run. “It’s a very nice and important initiative,” Claes explains. “It’s important that girls receive the same opportunities as boys, also in sports. Football isn’t just for boys and ballet isn't just for girls. We have to break through those stereotypes. The Equal Rights Run, the AG Memorial Van Damme and Plan International are shining a light on that, and it’s super important."
