NEW EUROPEAN RECORD FOR SIMONAugust 26th 2005 - In Brussels Simon has broken his own (and shared) European Record! Behind the worldchampion Saif Saaeed Shaheen Simon finished 2nd with a time of 8.04.95.
Simon didn't bother with the fast pace that was set by Jose Luis Blanco for Shaheen. Simon moved up several place in the second part of the race. Shaheen had some of his dribbles and stayed 2 seconds above the world record. Simon managed to pass Brahim Boulami in the last lap to finish second. Former shared record holder Tahri finished 5th. Brahim Boulami was the first to congratulate Simon with his brillant piece of steeple running.
Radio interviews Race info| Date | 26-aug-2005 | | Event | Ivo van Damme Memorial (Golden League) | | City | Brussel (BEL) | | Distance | 3k steeple | | Result | 8.04.95 (2nd) | | Complete result | 1 SHAHEEN, Saif Saaeed QAT 7:55.51
2 VROEMEN, Simon NED 8:04.95
3 BOULAMI, Brahim MAR 8:07.48
4 KEMBOI, Ezekiel KEN 8:09.73
5 TAHRI, Bouabdallah FRA 8:10.22
6 MATELONG, Richard KEN 8:10.97
7 OBAID, Musa Amer QAT 8:12.26
8 KIPROTICH, Wesley KEN 8:12.92
9 MISOI, Kipkirui KEN 8:13.08
10 KIPRUTO, Brimin KEN 8:14.26
11 CHUMBA, Linus KEN 8:17.29
12 MARTIN, Luís Miguel ESP 8:25.33
13 LE DAUPHIN, Vincent FRA 8:26.62
14 DESMET, Pieter BEL 8:29.80
15 KIPYEGO, Mike KEN 8:29.82
16 VAN KOOLWIJK, Krijn BEL 8:37.86
BLANCO, José Luis ESP DNF
JIMÉNEZ, Antonio David ESP DNF
SALEM, Jamal Bilal QAT DNF
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Vroemen - pacemaker takes recordBrussels, Belgium - Somewhat lost behind Saif Shaaeed Shaheen’s near miss-assault on his own World record in the 3000m Steeplechase was Simon Vroemen’s 8:04.95 runners-up performance, a clocking that removed the “co” from his long-time description as European record holder in the event.
“I didn’t want to put to much pressure on myself, so I only told a few friends that I actually had a plan to break the European record here,” said the nine-time Dutch champion after eclipsing the 8:06.91 standard he’s shared with Frenchman Bob Tahri since 2003.
It was a record few expected, including meeting director Wilfried Meert, who last winter asked the Dutchman to act as a pacemaker. It wasn’t until after his fifth place finish in Helsinki earlier this month that Vroemen had to back out of his offer.
“I actually said that I have some other plans right now. He was a little disappointed and I felt bad for him, but as an athlete there aren’t that many moments that you’re in such good shape.”
Vroemen bypassed last weekend’s Weltklasse in Zürich, choosing instead to focus on Brussels.
“I don’t believe on focusing on a very big performance every week. So after I felt really, really good in Helsinki, I specifically trained for this record attempt here. It was specifically planned like this and also the way I ran the race, with a reasonable start, but not too quick, and the second half which went exactly the way I wanted.
At 36, Vroeman, who has a PhD in microbiology and works as a reservoir engineer, might seem an unlikely record-breaker, but he’s convinced that there are even better things to come.
“I ran a great race tonight, but I by no means think that that was by definition my limit. It’s another five seconds, it’s a lot but it would for me not be impossible to run under eight minutes.”
No non-African has ever dipped under the eight minute barrier, and while Vroemen would like to be the first, he doesn’t see race being much of a factor.
“Even when I ran 8:06 a few years ago, I said I wanted to be the first non-African under eight minutes,” Vroemen said. “At the same time I’m not the type of person who wants to speak in black and white. I think everyone’s a human. Apart from Stephen (Shaheen), who is really the best in the world, you can see that all the Africans are beatable if you’re good. But to me it would be an additional challenge to be the first white person, if you want to call it that, under eight minutes.”
Age to, Vroemen believes, shouldn’t be a barrier to fast times.
“I am living proof that you don’t have to give up in your thirties. A lot of the Africans are already world class by the time they’re 21 or 22, and I think for them it’s very difficult to stay that good for 15 years. But I only started with the steeplechase when I was 27. I always had a very conservative approach. I never ran too many races in a year. I really think people can stay world class until they’re 38 or 39.”
“Carlos Lopes ran the marathon World record when he was 37 years old,” Vroemen continued. “I was a little boy sitting in the stands when he did that, and it just always stayed in my mind that you can actually be a World record runner when you’re 37 years old.”
Pausing for a moment, Vroemen turned to Shaheen, and said, “So, Stephen, I think I have one or two years left to break your world record.”
Source: IAAF, Bob Ramsak
Pictures
Reactions on this newsitemRHughes
August 26th 2005
| Simon, congradulations on your new European Record. That was awesome!!! | Storm
August 26th 2005
| Niet slecht zeg ;)
| Marcel Vaessen
August 26th 2005
| Simon,
Super kerel.
Op de momenten dat je er moet zijn sta je er. En dan bekroon je een mooie prestatie tijdens het WK nu met een verbetering van het ER.
Van harte. | Ton
August 26th 2005
| Geweldig Simon!! 'n nieuw Europees record én bij de masters het wereldrecord lekker scherp gesteld!
Je doet me elke keer weer versteld staan.... | Rob Viveen
August 26th 2005
| Wat een geweldige race en tijd. 08:04:95 WOW!!!!!! gefeliciteerd met je nieuwe ER. KLASSE. | Brandon Cooper
August 27th 2005
| Again, amazing job Simon! Congratulations on your amazing season thus far. Keep it up!
BC | patrick
August 27th 2005
| Is goed hé jongen Klasse | Michiel
August 27th 2005
| Indrukwekkend!!
Ik was in Brusssel. Jouw versnelling in de laatste ronde was geweldig.
Je vloog echt over Boulami heen. | Antoinette Stöcker
August 27th 2005
| Hallo Simon,
We waren gisteren in Brussel en hebben werkelijk genoten van jouw race. Goed opgebouwd en een geweldige eindsprint.
Van harte gefeliciteerd met dit Europees record.
Antoinette Stöcker
St. Parelloop Brunssum | Francisco Hipolito Bezerra / Edna Kaline
August 27th 2005
| congratulações pelo record europeu nos 3.000 m /s , ficamos muito feliz pelo seu dempenho principalmente contra o dominio dos africanos nas provas de fundo.
um abraço do seus amigos Hipolito e Kaline, BRASIL | Francisco Hipolito Bezerra / Edna Kaline
August 27th 2005
| congratulações pelo record europeu nos 3.000 m /s , ficamos muito feliz pelo seu dempenho principalmente contra o dominio dos africanos nas provas de fundo.
um abraço do seus amigos Hipolito e Kaline, BRASIL | Jelle
August 27th 2005
| Eindelijk eens alle (;-) Kenianen achter je gelaten. | Rob
August 27th 2005
| A truely inspirational run, Simon your living proof that athletes can still mix it on the world stage in their thirties. I am delighted for you.
Regards
| Marlon
August 27th 2005
| Gefeliciteerd!!! Ben ondertussen wel benieuwd wat je op een vlakke 3000 kan. | Hans
August 27th 2005
| Wat een ongelooflijk record en wat een pr weer voor de Nederlandse atletiek!!!
Gefeliciteerd. | Wilbert van den Bosch
August 27th 2005
| | Wilbert van den Bosch
August 27th 2005
| Als jij jezelf zo kunt verbeteren, hang ik vanaf nu mijn krukken definitief in de wilgen! | Eric /// Roeske
August 28th 2005
| Simon, ik ben zo trots op jou, wat een held ben je! Echt SUPER!!!!
| H.F.M. Walker
August 28th 2005
| Heer MSP Vroemen,
Na de 5e plaats op het WK nu wederom een geweldige prestatie, eindelijk het EK record alleen op jou naam.
Hierop moet getoost worden met XO!
Met elitaite groet,
Président p.t H.F.M. Walker | Peters familie
August 28th 2005
| Simon, grote klasse. We zijn trots op je!! We hadden je al eerder verteld dat de Griekse goden je bijstaan!! Een prachtige tijd!! Groeten van ons allemaal, Peters familie
| Leon
August 28th 2005
| Topprestatie Simon. Ik heb net het uitgebreide wedstrijdverhaal in De Telegraaf gelezen. Prima. Ben onder de indruk! | Bjorn Parée
August 29th 2005
| Vrijdag staan juichen en dansen in de woonkamer voor de tv. WOW ; wat een prestatie !! Helaas problemen met de internet verbinding dus bij deze alsnog : Gefeliciteerd !! Gr. Bjorn | Bram
August 29th 2005
| Proficiat met je schitterende tijd! Ik denk dat er nog wat meer inzit (volgend jaar, 30ste Memorial!!!)
Ook proficiat aan Adrienne die toch een degelijke 1000 heeft gelopen ... Hierbij ook de groetjes van Barbara waarvan Adrienne verkeerdelijk dacht dat zij gewonnen had!
Tot later,
Bram | rob
August 30th 2005
| Live gezien in Brussel !!
Wat een prestatie, wat een tactiek, wat een inzicht !!!
Proficiat! | Pieter
August 30th 2005
| Ik heb je zien lopen in Brussel, en ik moet zeggen dat het echt indrukwekkend was. Prachtig hoe je die laatste ronde nog kan versnellen. Chapeau! | Kazimierz Pawlik
May 24th 2006
| Congratulations,congratulations !!!!!
A wonderfull job,I'm enjoying very,very
much.I understand perfectly the hard work,of course a unique talent is a great gift of God Jehovah.The times has changed dramatically from when I run.
( 1979 marathon 2:11,34 )I drink Tahitian Noni,as You know a gift of God.I did run ~120 000 km in 17 years.
10 years I've spent in Polish National Team,now,I'm in Long Island NY USA.
Best regards and best races ever !!!
Kaz Pawlik | Naomi Pawlik
June 23rd 2008
| I know a little about races my father Kazimierz teaches me many things I to drink tahitian noni I wish you all the best races ever!!! |
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