Elien Vekemans - Women's Track & Field - Arkansas Razorbacks

Elien Vekemans

Jr./RS-So. | 5-10 | Pole Vault | Leuven, Belgium | Heilig Hart Heverlee/Oklahoma

Sophomore (2021)
Outdoor: did not compete.

Indoor: Established a career best of 13-9 1/4 (4.20) in her first meet as a Razorback, placing second in the Arkansas Invitational … Finished fifth in Wooo Pig Classic (13-6 1/4) and tied for third in Arkansas Qualifier (13-5 1/4).

College
Freshman season with Oklahoma Sooners included placing fourth in the Big 12 Indoor 13-7.25 (4.15) … Competed in Fayetteville twice, finishing third at Razorback Invitational with a 13-8.25 (4.17) and at Tyson Invitational, placing fourth in clearing 13-8.5 (4.18).

High School
Graduated from Heilig Hart Heverlee in 2019 … Coached by Steven Taeleman … Competed with club DCLA in Leuven … Produced career best of 13-11.25 (4.25) in June of 2019 to set Belgian U20 record and equaled the U23 record … Earned a bronze medal in European U20 Championships and competed in European U18 Championships in 2018 … Set Belgian records for U18 and U20 age group, indoor and outdoor … Cleared a season best of 13-9.25 (4.20) in 2018, then equal to world youth leader for season and ranked second best for the year.

Personal
Elien Vekemans was born April 30, 2001 in Leuven, Belgium … Hometown is Leuven … Parents are Kris Vekemans and Tina Timmermans … Has two brothers, Daan and Noa … Majoring in Biological Engineering … Ambition is to compete in the Olympics … Favorite athlete is heptathlete Nafi Thiam of Belgium, and the person she most admires is pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis … Loves traveling … Chose Arkansas for the track and field team along with the major she wants to pursue.

Elien Vekemans | Career Stats

Career best marks

Indoor

PV | 14-3 1/4 (4.35) [=No.10 UA, Belgian U23 record]

Outdoor

PV | 13-11 3/4 (4.26) [national junior record, Belgium]