NOS Sport•
Bol immediately wins the Dutch indoor record on debut at 800 meters
Femke Bol immediately won on her debut as an 800 meter runner and also broke the 25-year-old Dutch indoor record of Ester Goossens.
In Metz, the world champion won the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 1.59.05, which was later adjusted to 1.59.07. This made her well faster than Goossens’ old national top time. This came to 2.00.01 in 2001.
With her time, Bol also immediately qualified for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in March in Torun, Poland, although it is not certain whether she will appear at the start there.
After the start, Bol continued to run well ahead of the rest of the field, following in the wake of the hare who gave up after just over 500 meters. Afterwards, Bol retained the lead with a lot of relaxation and she ran smoothly to the new top time. The Swiss Valentina Rosamilia finished second by almost a second.
‘It actually went very well’
In a reaction afterwards, Bol indicated that she was very satisfied with her first 800 meters. “It actually went very well. I am very happy with a time under two minutes. A Dutch record in my very first race.”
View Bol’s response below.
Bol takes indoor record in first 800 meters: ‘Very different, but fun’
Bol had to admit that she could not fully predict how the race would go. “The second and third laps were exciting because it feels quite far. But I still felt good in the last lap. I am very happy with this as my very first 800 meters ever. I really enjoyed it. Very different, but very fun.”
Bol announced at the end of last year that she will from now on compete in the 800 meters instead of the 400 meters hurdles. After a lot of training, including in South Africa, she was at the start of an official 800 meters in Metz for the first time since her youth.
This year, the indoor competitions are mainly a prelude to the outdoor season for Bol. The Dutch outdoor record for the 800 meters has been held by Olympic champion Ellen van Langen since 1992: 1.55.54.
