The AG Memorial Van Damme that hosts the IAAF Diamond League Final on Sep. 1st in the King Baudouin Stadium is a world class athletics event. But the AG Memorial Van Damme is more than just that single event. With the AG Urban Memorial Van Damme Series athletics will be present during spring and summer in the heart of the biggest cities in Belgium.
Liège was the first Urban event this Saturday with a spectacular High Jump event in the shadow of the Prince-Bishop’s Palace. The setting was certainly spectacular, but also the presence of Olympic Heptathlon Champion Nafi Thiam. Thiam actually is a little bit home in Liège where she studies geography at the local University.
Thiam entered the competition with a warm up jump at 1.84m. She also comfortably crossed the bar at 1.87m. But at 1.90m she came in all sort of trouble. In her first attempt the run up wasn’t right and she went under the bar. In her next attempts she didn’t quite reach the height and failed, in spite of the loud cheers of her home crowd.
Nadiya Dusanova managed to cross the bar at 1.90m and took a well deserved win in Liège. The Uzbekish athlete was very excited about this event and started her competition at 1.61m to cross 8 consecutive heights at her first attempt. Dusanova holds a personal best at 1.98m but failed to jump 1.94m.
Hanne Van Hessche from Belgium finished in 3rd place with 1.84m. The other Belgian Hannelore Desmet came in 6th with 1.76m. Serena Capponcelli (ITA) was 4th (1.81m) and Taisiya Roslova (BLR) 5th (1.81m). Evelis Aguilar (COL) was 7th with 1.66m.
VERDONCK WINS THE MEN'S HIGH JUMP
The national High Jump competition in the pre program was won by Emile Verdonck with 2.14m, ahead of Bram Ghuys (2.11m) and Fabiano Kalandula (2.11m).
AG SPRINT EXPERIENCE & KIDS ATHLETICS
Spectators were invited to participate in the AG Sprint Experience, a 50m race on a regular sprint track. The 9 fastest men and women will compete on Friday, Sep, 1st in the pre program of the Memorial in front of 40.000 spectators to decide who will become the fastest man or women for one day.
Kids could participate in a Kids Atletics program, directed by staff from Liège Athletics Club. Participating children received a certificate. The Kids Athletics program will be present at all upcoming Urban Memorial events.
Public access to all AG Urban Memorial Van Damme Series events is free. Everybody is welcome !
Next event in Ostend !
The AG Urban Memorial Series is heading for 4 other Belgian cities, on Saturday afternoon when the city centers are bursting of life.
- Saturday June, 3rd : Zeeheldenplein Ostend, Discus Throw Men with Philip Milanov
- Saturday June, 17th : Kouter Gent : Pole Vault Men with Thomas Van der Plaetsen
- Saturday July, 8th : Groenplaats Antwerp, Long Jump Women with Nafi Thiam
- Saturday August, 26th : Brussels, 100m Men and Women with Anne Zagré
The Diamond Race Final of the Men’s Shot Put will be held in the city center of Brussels, on Thursday August, 31st.
