Both in top form for the 44th edition of the FBK Games

The line-up for the 44th edition of the FBK Games in Hengelo on Whit Monday, June 9, was announced Monday morning by the organizing body, Global Sports Communication. Numerous Dutch athletes will be present to compete for victory in what is expected to be a sold-out Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium. Femke Bol and Jessica Schilder both expressed great excitement about the only international top-level athletics meet held in the Netherlands.

Femke Bol heads to a "very special" FBK Games after strong season start

Femke Bol kicked off her season on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, with a commanding win in the 400-meter hurdles at the Diamond League meet, clocking 52.46 seconds—the fastest season opener of her career. This season, the 25-year-old has changed her approach by starting with her left leg in the blocks instead of her right. The goal: to be able to clear the final hurdles with her preferred leg. Her next race will be in Hengelo on Whit Monday. Prior to that, she will be in training camp in Morocco with her coach Laurent Meuwly, Nadine Visser, and Lieke Klaver, who will also compete in Hengelo, until June 6.

“Hengelo is one of the most special competitions out there, and on top of that, I’ll be running my specialty, the 400-meter hurdles,” said Bol. “The FBK Games are really special.” She skipped almost the entire indoor season this winter—aside from two 4x400 meter relays, where she anchored the Dutch team to gold twice. “That was a good decision. I’ve built a strong foundation, I’m mentally refreshed, and I’m hungrier than ever.”

Jessica Schilder praises Dutch fans in Hengelo

Jessica Schilder has already competed more this early summer season than Bol. She performed strongly at two Diamond League meets in China in April, improving her outdoor shot put record from 20.33 meters (set at the 2024 FBK Games) to 20.47 meters. Indoors this year, she even threw 20.69 meters—the best mark in the world so far in 2024. Schilder also looked ahead to Hengelo:

“It’s hard to describe how incredible it is to compete in the shot put at the FBK Games,” she said. “The fans are so close—it makes the experience truly special.” When asked about her goals, she said she hopes to someday reach 21 meters. “That dream is becoming more realistic, step by step. I’m getting more consistent at throwing over 20 meters.”

FBK Games participants – Whit Monday, June 9, 2025

MEN

100 meters: perfect challenge for Taymir Burnet and Elvis Afrifa

In the slipstream of five men with personal bests under ten seconds, Dutch sprinters Elvis Afrifa and Taymir Burnet will try to improve their own best times of 10.18 and 10.09 respectively in the blue-ribbon event. Top sprinter Yohan Blake, now 35, is the 2011 world champion; after Usain Bolt, his 9.69 remains the second-fastest time ever.

400 meters: four Dutch stars promise fireworks

An exciting race is expected in the 400 meters, as this event is particularly strong in the Netherlands. Veteran and national record holder Liemarvin Bonevacia is back in form after injuries at the Paris Olympics and the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, as evidenced by his 32.50 over 300 meters last Sunday in Brussels. The day before, Jonas Phijffers ran a personal best of 45.26 in the same King Baudouin Stadium. Alongside Isaya Klein Ikkink, who clocked 45.28 in 2024, and Eugene Omalla, who has already run 45.24, this promises to be a true Dutch showdown. International competition from the likes of Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana, with a personal best of 44.22, will make the battle even more intense.

800 meters: Six Dutch stars in one race

What a luxury for the Netherlands in the 800 meters. No fewer than five Dutch athletes who excelled last year and during the indoor season are lining up. Think of Samuel Chapple, European indoor champion, or Ryan Clarke, also a finalist at the European Championships. Tony van Diepen, known from the 4x400 meters, will also be there. And of course, Olympic 1500-meter finalists Niels Laros and Stefan Nillessen are joining the field. On paper, the strongest international competitor is American Jonah Koech, who won the 1500 meters in Rabat on Sunday evening in 3:31.43. Pacing duties will be handled by Rick van Riel, who has a personal best of 1:45.77 himself.

110m hurdles: Koster and Geerds face world-class field

For the still young Timme Koster and Job Geerds (both born in 2002), the FBK Games have attracted a fantastic field of competitors, including three men who have run under 13 seconds multiple times. American Cordell Tinch is the fastest among them this season with a personal best of 12.87. Also competing are two rising Belgian hurdlers, Michael Obasuyi (PB 13.20) and Elie Bacari (13.36). The Olympic champion from Rio 2016, Omar McLeod, is also part of the lineup.

Long Jump: International showdown

An all-foreign affair in the long jump. Eight men with jumps over eight meters will compete for the victory here. The American Marquis Dendy is the most well-known, having jumped 8.42 meters before.

Pole Vault: Dream field of competition for Menno Vloon

The fresh European indoor champion Menno Vloon is performing better than ever. In Hengelo, he will compete against three excellent pole vaulters who have already cleared six meters or higher: KC Lightfoot, Christopher Nilsen, and Ernest John Obiena. Vloon himself still holds a personal best of 5.96 meters, achieved indoors in 2021. It seems only a matter of time before Vloon breaks the magical six-meter barrier, and perhaps he will do so for the first time in Hengelo.

Discus Throw featuring ‘newcomers’ Shaquille Emanuelson and Ruben Rolvink

Shaquille Emanuelson and Ruben Rolvink are the new Dutch athletes raising the level of discus throwing. Emanuelson (born in 2000) threw his discus 69.65 meters in April in Ramona, USA, under ideal conditions. With this, he broke the long-standing record of Erik de Bruin, who threw 68.12 meters in 1991. Ruben Rolvink (born in 2002) already threw 66.12 meters earlier this month. Among the international top competitors are Olympic champion Rojé Stona, Matthew Denny, and Kristjan Ceh. Seven of them have thrown 70 meters or more at least once.

WOMEN

200 meters: Battle between 400-meter runners Lieke Klaver and Natalia Bukowiecka
Lieke Klaver, European indoor champion in the 400 meters, is making a 200-meter outing in Hengelo, just like the Polish Natalia Bukowiecka. The Polish athlete won bronze at the Paris Olympic Games. "With Lieke, we have one of the big Dutch stars on board, which is fantastic for the event," says meeting director Ellen van Langen of Global Sports Communication. Klaver can also expect competition from American Jenna Prandini, who boasts a personal best of 21.89 seconds.

800 meters: Fast times expected with pacing by Lisanne de Witte

With the experienced Dutch runner Lisanne de Witte as pacemaker for a group of ten women who have all run well under two minutes on the 800 meters, there is a strong chance of a top time on Pentecost Monday in Hengelo. Four women have already run times in the 1:57 range. Ugandan Halimah Nakaayi is the 2019 world champion.

100 meters hurdles: Nadine Visser favorite thanks to top form

Nadine Visser is the favorite to win the 100 meters hurdles. After impressive performances in Atlanta (12.46 with a slight tailwind over the allowable limit) and on Sunday in Rabat, where she finished second in 12.67 behind world record holder Tobi Amusan, she has already shown she is in top shape. "I also have very good memories of last year," Visser said earlier. "After three years, I finally ran a personal best again, and that in front of the home crowd—it was amazing! I’m really looking forward to showing something great again this year!" said the 30-year-old athlete who finished fourth at the Olympic Games. Kendra Harrison is the former world record holder, Nia Ali the 2019 world champion, and Polish athlete Pia Skrzyszowska has run nearly as fast as Visser. Another Dutch competitor is Maayke Tjin A-Lim.

400 meters hurdles: How fast will Femke Bol go?

After her first race on Sunday in Rabat, Bol believes she can start even fresher in Hengelo. She said Monday morning that the FBK Games are the kickoff for a period with many races to come. Cathelijn Peters, who finished third at last year’s European Championships in Rome, could also easily make it onto the podium.

3000 meters steeplechase: Ugandan Peruth Chemutai aims for a fast steeplechase race

Olympic silver medalist Peruth Chemutai has announced her intention to go for a fast steeplechase race in Hengelo. On paper, the Ugandan is also the fastest, with a personal best of 8:48.03. Veerle Bakker is the Dutch hope who will hopefully be able to keep up with the international steeplechase competition.

High jump: Britt Weerman returns, Nicola Olyslagers favorite

High jumper Britt Weerman is back after many injuries and can look forward to a strong field of competitors in Hengelo. Weerman won silver at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul. The most well-known participant is Australian Nicola Olyslagers, who has won Olympic silver twice.

Shot put: Strong competition for Jessica Schilder

With Chase Jackson, two-time world champion, Jessica Schilder faces a tough competitor in the shot put circle. Just like last year, Schilder will give it her all to achieve the longest shot put in front of her home crowd. Jorinde van Klinken, who specializes in discus throwing, is also skilled in shot put. Last year, she finished second at the European Championships in Rome.

The FBK Games is the only international top athletics competition in the Netherlands and is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, a prestigious series of thirteen competitions held across five continents. All information about the FBK Games can be found at www.fbkgames.nl.