European Athletics (EAA) – News – Belgian runners vie for Budapest ticket in Roeselare

Excitement is building ahead of this weekend's Lotto Crosscup West-Vlaanderen in Roeselare which will once more be decisive for the Belgian selection for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Budapest on 9 December.

Roeselare has for many years now played host to a European Athletics Cross Country Permit race that attracts thousands of track and field fans to the circuit at Schiervelde in the heart of Flanders.

More importantly, it offers the athletes a unique possibility to get a ticket for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships.

For Atelaw Bekele in particular there is much at stake. The defending European cross country champion had a difficult summer and is now determined to defend the continental title, he won in such a splendid fashion in Velenje.

Bekele has been training in high atltitude in Ethiopia and believes the race in Roeselare will offer the ideal preparation ahead of Budapest.

Among other Belgian contenders are Bashir Abdi, the reigning national champion who just came back from a two-week training in Kenia. Youngsters Pieter-Jan Hannes, Koen Naert, Mats Lunders, Stijn Garain and Dries Basemans will all be aiming for a ticket in the under-23 category.

The list of foreign athletes in the men's race is headed by Daniele Meucci of Italy, who finished second behind Mo Farah in 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki this summer. Korir Kipkoech of Kenya, who finsihed second at the Lotto Crosscup op Mol, two weeks ago will also be in contention.

In the senior women's category, defending champion Yulia Ruban of the Ukraine will once again be the one to beat. Her country women Lyudmila Kovalenko, Clarissa Cruz of Portugal, Belgian girls Zenobie Vangansbeke, Barbara Maveau, Veerle Van Linden, Veerle Dejaeghere and Almensch Belete are expected to give stiff challenge to Ruban.

European Athletics (EAA)