ATHLETICS – Marathon runner Tom Hendriks can show himself next summer at the European Athletics Championships in Munich. Technical director Ad Roskam of the Athletics Union announced tonight that the Assenaar from AAC ’61 and Team 4 Miles has been selected for the European Marathon Championships.
In addition to Hendriks, seven Dutchmen participate in that European Championship on the first day. The men are Khalid Choukoud, Björn Koreman and Ronald Schröer and the women Nienke Brinkman, Jill Holterman, Ruth van der Meijden and Bo Ummels. Abdi Nageeye will be the only Dutch participant in the World Marathon Championships in Oregon this summer.
The marathon in Munich will be only his second marathon ever for Hendriks. More than a year ago, he made a surprising debut at the Dresden Marathon, running in two hours, thirteen minutes and three seconds, but a minute and a half away from the Olympic limit. The Assenaar was actually supposed to run the Rotterdam marathon at the beginning of April, but an ‘indefinable injury’ threw a spanner in the works.
In Munich, Hendriks, who will undoubtedly use the coming months to prepare well for the European Championship, will have another chance at his second marathon. The European Marathon Championships will take place in the German city from 15 to 21 August.