Credit: FLA
On Friday 22 August 2025, Luxembourg middle-distance runner Ruben Querinjean became the first athlete from the Grand Duchy to claim victory at a Diamond League meeting in Brussels, winning the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a new national record.
The 24-year-old athlete was competing at the Memorial van Damme meeting at the Boudewijnstadion, shortly after his victory at the FISU World University Games in late July, where he set a competition record of 8:18.47. In Brussels, Querinjean completed the distance nine seconds faster, setting a new national record of 8:09.47, surpassing the previous mark of 8:14.33.
According to the Luxembourg Athletics Federation (Fédération Luxembourgeoise d'Athlétisme - FLA), it was a “controlled race”. Querinjean “stayed tucked into the back of the pack early on, always within reach”, before gradually moving forward. On the final lap, he “positioned himself perfectly”, then “unleashed a brilliant last 200 metres” to surge ahead and secure victory at the finish line.
This also marks only the second-ever Diamond League victory for Luxembourg, following Patrizia van der Weken’striumph last year, and highlights the continued progress of Luxembourgish athletics on the international stage, noted the FLA.
Querinjean’s next appearance is scheduled for the World Athletics Championships, taking place in Tokyo from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September 2025.
Luxembourg sprinter Patrizia van der Weken is also preparing for the upcoming championships in the Japanese capital. She recently competed in the women’s 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels, finishing eighth with a time of 11.25 seconds. Victory went to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States, who clocked 10.76 seconds.
