Dutch Athletics Team 10th European Athletics U23 Championships Tallinn (EST) | July 9 - 12, 2015 1 Royal Dutch Athletics Federation / Atletiekunie P.O. Box 60100 6800 JC Arnhem The Netherlands President: Theo Hoex General Secretary: Jan Willem Landré Phone: +31(0)26 483 48 00 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.atletiekunie.nl @atletiekunie, @atletieklive facebook.com/Atletiekunie 2 Contents Additional info Dutch athletes 4 Introduction 5 A word with Jip Vastenburg 6 Timetable 8 Biographies 11 - Men 11 - Women 20 - Staff 29 History and Statistics 32 - Combined Events Calculator 32 - Dutch Medalists in European U23 Championships, 1997-2013 33 - All Dutch Performances in European U23 Championships, 1997-2013 33 - Dutch and European U23 Records 38 Additional Information & Production 40 3 Additional info Dutch Athletes Dutch Athletes can be found on several places on the web. Some have their own websites, but many of them you can also follow via their Twitter account. Men Website Twitter account Hensley Paulina @IamTrackPow Richard Douma www.richarddouma.nl @DoumaRichard www.bartvannunen.com @BartvanNunen Bart van Nunen www.topsportperfection.nl Jurriaan Wouters @JurriaanWouters Pieter Braun www.pieterbraun.com @PieterBraun Women Website Twitter account Naomi Sedney www.sedney.net Tessa van Schagen www.tessavanschagen.nl @TessavanSchagen Anneluijten.waarbenjij.nu @AnneLuijten1994 Anne Luijten www.ruitenburgrunners.nl (team) www.jipvastenburg.nl @JipVastenburg Jip Vastenburg www.teamsotra.nl (team) Nadine Visser @NadineVisser_ Eefje Boons www.hortas.nl (team) @EefjeBoons Femke Pluim www.alzu-coaching.nl (team) @FemkePluim Marije van Hunenstijn www.teamsotra.nl (team) Sacha van Agt www.stae.nl (team) @SachaVanAgt Others Website Twitter account Atletiekunie www.atletiekunie.nl @Atletiekunie @Atletieklive European Athletics www.european-athletics.org @EuroAthletics Tallinn 2015 www.tallinn2015.org @Euro_U23s 4 Introduction The Royal Dutch Athletics Federation proudly presents its delegation for the European U23 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. Twenty Dutch athletes will celebrate the 10th anniversary of this tournament; eleven young men and nine young women who make up to nineteen appearances in up to seventeen events. Three athletes are fortunate enough to return to these U23 Championships after Tampere 2013. All men will be looking to improve on their already impressive top-12 result: Richard Douma in the 1500 meters (12th two years ago), Pieter Braun in the heptathlon (11th), and surprise bronze medalist Hensley Paulina (100 meters and this time also 200 meters). The previous edition of these championships was the most successful ever for Dutch Athletics. Of the 24 Dutch medals even won in the tournament, no fewer than six came in 2013. Highlights were of course the Gold medals for Dafne Schippers (100 meters) and Douwe Amels (high jump), but hurdlers Bianca Baak and Koen Smet added Silvers as well. Paulina, and another bronze medal for Schippers in the Long Jump completed the sextet. Ever since their inception in 1997, the European U23 Championships have proven a strong indicator of success on even bigger stages. The vast majority of recent Dutch Olympians, World and European Championships participants, as well as European and World medalists have competed in this tournament. Champions like Dafne Schippers, Nadine Broersen, Eelco Sintnicolaas, Rutger Smith, and Bram Som are only a few of the examples. This year, no fewer than eight members of the Dutch U23 team are ranked in the top-8 of the European rankings – heptathlete Nadine Visser indeed twice, and distance runner Jip Vastenburg even three times. Naming main medal contenders is always risky and unfair, but Braun, Vastenburg, and Douma are among them, as well as pole vaulter Femke Pluim, and the relay teams. In addition, the team contains a number of outsiders, who can easily produce pleasant surprises. More information about all Dutch participants in these championships can be found in this booklet, alongside statistical information, an interview with Jip Vastenburg, and more. The best of luck to all participants in this tournament, and to the organizers! This booklet is dedicated to Ton de Kleijn. Among many things, our dear friend was one of the main Atletiekunie statisticians, a dedicated club- and federation volunteer, and chief editor of these Championship Team Booklets for the past ten years. Ton suddenly passed away in March of 2015 - Rest in Peace, Nest(sn)or! 5 A word with … Jip Vastenburg A week ahead of the U23 Championships, no fewer than 5 Dutch athletes were in the top- 3 of their event in the European rankings for their age group. One of them in fact managed that 3 times: Jip Vastenburg leads the 10,000 meters, is second over 3000 meters, and ranks third in the 5000 meters. As a reigning European Junior Champion (5000m gold in Rieti 2013), and the long distance runner is one of the favourites in Tallinn. Question: For many athletes, it takes time to switch from junior to senior. You, however, broke through right away with a gutsy run last year at the European Championships in Zürich. Was the distance a factor? Jip: I was super happy and proud of my fourth place in Zürich. Beforehand, I had reckoned to go for a medal. At first, it was very disappointing that I missed the bronze by only a second. For me, the longer the distance, the better. That is why I made the switch to the 10k at a fairly young age. My first 10k experience at a tournament was in Zürich, which was also my first 10,000 meters on track ever. Question: This winter, we did not see you much in cross country or road races. How bad was the foot injury you finished the summer season with? Jip: My foot had been bothering me since April 2014, but with the EC in Zürich coming up I did not want to rest because I was afraid I would not be good enough. That is why the recovery took very long. In retrospect I learned a lot from it, and that is perhaps just as important. Question: After a successful Dutch 10k Road championship, you took another break for a minor injury. Is there a secret to your returning back to shape quickly after injury? Jip: I had indeed just made my return when I lost another month. I ended up doing an enormous amount of alternative training, and perhaps did even more than I would have done if I had stayed injury-free. Naturally there are difficult moments, but a positive mindset, in combination with a good dose of willingness to work, will bring you back from injury quickly. Question: After 32.11,90 at your debut, and 32.27 in Zürich, you likely aimed for sub-33 at the 10,000 back in Stanford. Did you think you had 31:35.48 in you? Jip: Before the race in Stanford I had hoped for a time below 32 minutes, because that would mean qualification for both the World Championships and the Olympics Games. I would not have dared to dream to go this far under, especially as I had been out with injuries for so long. Question: After Stanford, you ran a personal best over 3000 meters at the FBK Games in Hengelo. How was it to run at a meet you once attended as a spectator? Jip: The FBK Games were really super cool. There were very many spectators, and the weather was great, which led to a nice atmosphere. I hope we can experience this for a whole week next year at the European Championships in Amsterdam. 6 Question: With a seasonal best almost a minute faster than number two in de 10,000 meters, you are a favourite in Tallinn. Does that influence your race strategy? Jip: No, not really. From Zürich I have taken the lesson that I need to trust myself more. I can make a race hard as well as run a some quick last kilometres. In short I need to exude confidence and run the race that same way. Question: You are also qualified, ranked, and entered in the 5000 meters. What will determine which event you choose? Jip: In principle I will go for the 10k, because I consider that to be the most beautiful distance by far. Question: With the World Championships late in the summer this year, would doubling up the 5000 and 10,000 in Tallinn ever be an option? Jip: When I set my goals together with my coach in September 2014, I had the idea to double up. But with the World Championships coming up that is no longer an option. Considering my long injury period as well, I do not want to run any risk of extra injuries leading up to Rio 2016. Question: Your long-term marathon ambitions are well-known. As you aim for the 10,000 meters at the Beijing World Championships and the Rio Olympics, when might we see you in the full 42,195m? Jip: Until 2016 I am 100 percent focused on a good track season, but from 2017/2018 you will also find me in the marathon. I look forward to it very much already, even as I will never abandon track altogether. Running track and on the road can be combined very well, and I consider track too beautiful to cast aside. Question: Do you have a personal preference between racing on the track (e.g. FBK Games) or on the road (e.g. one of the famous Dutch city marathons?) Jip: That is a difficult question. I consider both super fun, but my dream is really the marathon and therefore road racing. But as I said, I think the two can be combined! 7 Timetable NB All times local. 10:00 a.m.