On Saturday 19 July Heusden-Zolder is hosting the 46th edition of the KBC Night of Athletics. A strong international field of participants and an enthusiastic home crowd looks set to give the numerous Belgian top athletes, including Rani Rosius and Isaac Kimeli, an extra push on their way to a great performance. With an extensive support programme packed with youth and national competitions, Saturday promises to be another great day for athletics at the convivial De Veen stadium. Around a thousand athletes will participate. Spectators can enter free of charge.
This year’s KBC Night is held in the build-up to the World Athletics Championships, held in Tokyo in September. The always buzzing atmosphere at De Veen, with thousands of enthusiastic spectators close to the track, has pushed many athletes to their very best level over the years. World Cup limits, meeting records, personal records, close duels, … Athletics fans can look forward to a healthy dose of excitement on Saturday. One exciting new feature of this year’s event: thanks to the fan signs provided by title partner KBC, everyone will be challenged to come up with original words of encouragement for their favourite star(s).
One of those stars will be Rani Rosius. The 25-year-old sprint ace from Genk will compete in the 100 metres against two Diamond League regulars, American Maia McCoy and Luxembourg’s Patrizia Van der Weken.
In the men’s 5000 metres all Belgian eyes will be on Isaac Kimeli and Thomas Vanoppen. Can they erase Mohammed Mourhit’s nearly 25-year-old Belgian record off the tables? The 20-year-old meeting record of Moukhled Al-Outaibi is in danger as well given the traditionally strong line-up. The highlight of the 1500 metres will be Frenchman Jimmy Gressier, who became European half marathon champion in Leuven in April.
The 400 metres will also be a discipline to look out for. In her preparation for the World Championships in Tokyo, Kenya’s 800 metres world champion Mary Moraa will make a side-step to the 400 metres. Imke Vervaet provides the Belgian representation in this highly competitive event. In the men’s 400 metres Belgian Tornado Florent Mabille takes on the likes of Botswana’s Lee Eppie, Africa’s vice champion.
Camille Laus will compete in the 800 metres against Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew (silver at World Indoor 2025) and Benin’s Noelie Yarigo (bronze at World Indoor 2024). In the men’s event, Tibo De Smet will defend Belgium’s honour in the 800 metres, where Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela (Olympic finalist in Paris) and Kethobogile Haingura (vice-champion of Africa) look set to be the names to beat.
Other Belgians to look out for include Paulien Couckuyt (400-metre hurdles), Nolan Vancauwemberghe (110-metre hurdles), Timothy Herman (javelin throw) and Elien Vekemans (pole vault), who has already managed to chip away at her Belgian record several times this season. For a new BR, Vekemans needs to clear 4m65 on Saturday at De Veen stadium.
The main programme of the 46th KBC Night starts Saturday at 18:30, with the preliminary programme kicking off the day at 12:30. Just before the start of the main programme the winners of Heusden-Zolder’s resident competition will be honoured. The children or groups (classes, associations, youth clubs, …) who have submitted the most beautiful athletics drawing or colouring picture of Rani Rosius will be invited to the podium. The end of the 46th KBC Night is scheduled around 11pm.
“Every year, the KBC Night of Athletics is a sporting celebration that puts Heusden-Zolder on the map locally, nationally and internationally,” said mayor Mario Borremans. “We are proud to welcome so much top talent to the De Veen stadium, from young local athletes to future world champions. This edition once again promises magic on the track as well as a great experience off it.”
