Femke Bol is set to race the 400m hurdles at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on June 30. She is coming off of a phenomenal indoor season, where she set two World Records. She has kept the fire going with a strong start to her outdoor season. She is setting up for another spectacular performance in Lausanne as she continues her build up to the World Championships this August.
A Heroic Indoor Campaign
Bol had an absolutely dominant indoor campaign. She remained undefeated while competing with some of the best in the world, all while recording marks that put her into a legendary stratosphere.
Bol ran a strong 200m personal best of 22.87 in February, which was also a National Record. An incredible performance like this showcases that Bol is building up the leg speed that will help propel her in her longer primary events moving forward. It will certainly make the difference in efficiency over 400 meters.
Another off-distance event that Bol attacked this indoor season was the 500m. In her one race over this distance, she ran a blistering 1:05.63. This time set a new World Best in the event, making her the fastest woman in history over 500m indoors. Clearly, Bol has made even more improvements in her strength to be able to run such a quick mark in an over-distance event.
Perhaps the most impressive mark that Femke Bol put down this indoor season was her 49.26 over 400m. This time shattered the World Record in the indoor 400m. Not only did it put her as the fastest woman in history, but she did so in her National Championships. A performance like this simply is special, and points to great results to come.
Femke Bol capped off her dominant indoor season with two European titles at the European Indoor Championships. She won the open 400m in a blistering 49.85. She also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay. Her ability to perform on the biggest stages showed yet again.
A Steady Start to the Outdoor Season
If there was one word to characterize Bol’s start to the outdoor season, it would be consistency.
So far, Bol has remained undefeated through the outdoor season. She has not had any all-time performances like her indoor season just yet. But, she is remaining consistent and performing at a very high level.
In the 400m, she has posted two marks for the outdoor season. She opened with a 50.11 to win a race in her home country on June 4. Then, she improved to a 49.82 to win the European Team Championships 400m, adding yet another title to her resume.
Over 400m hurdles, Bol’s primary event, she has already raced three times this outdoor season. Similar to the open 400m, she has shown steady improvement in each outing thus far. Bol opened with a 53.12, then followed it up with a 52.43 a week later at the Florence Diamond League. Bol then ran a 52.30 at the Oslo Diamond League to set the current world lead and a meet record.
One of the most impressive parts of Bol’s early outdoor season is how steadily she has improved each race. She has consistently taken tenths of seconds off each time that she competes. It shows just how well her season is designed so that she can continue to improve throughout. It will be fascinating to see just how much Bol can continue to progress into the World Championships.
Lausanne Diamond League
Bol will be racing the 400m hurdles at the Lausanne Diamond League. It will certainly be a race worth watching, as it will be her fourth time racing the event outdoors.
The event in particular is especially important as Bol has already stated that she will be focusing on it at the World Championships.
Coming off of a World Silver Medal in the 400m hurdles last season, it make sense why Bol would want to focus in on her primary event yet again. She has proven that she knows how to compete with the best in the 400m hurdles, making her a threat through the rounds.
This race in Lausanne will certainly be a good test for Bol as she continues to progress towards the World Championships. Almost everyone in the field already has a season’s best in the 54-second range. It means that Bol will have to compete hard in order to come out with a win, as competition still remains the most important part.
Utilizing these Diamond League meets is key for Bol. She is developing that ever-important race experience that will train her to be ready for the brutal rounds at the World Championships.
Looking Ahead
Bol has shown that she is in supreme form already. It seems as though she has only gotten better since her second-place performance at the World Championships last season.
One piece that is particularly interesting is how Bol set both an over-distance and under-distance PB this indoor season, in the 500m and 200m respectively. This could mean that Bol has improved upon both her speed and her strength in the offseason. It is a good sign for a big jump in her primary event, the 400m hurdles.
With a big jump looking to be coming soon, many will be asking if Bol could challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the World Champion and World Record Holder, over 400m hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone is on her own level currently, as she is the only woman to break 51 seconds over 400m hurdles in history. But, if there was an athlete who could challenge for the top of the throne, it seems that it would be Bol currently. She is separating herself as one of the premiere 400m hurdlers in the world.
Femke Bol could be due for another spectacular performance in the 400m hurdles both in the Lausanne Diamond League, and the World Championships in Budapest this August. It will be fascinating to see just how much she can continue to progress moving forward.
Watch all of the action at the Lausanne Diamond League on Peacock starting at 2:00 pm on June 30.
Stay tuned for further professional Track & Field content, including meet previews, race analysis, and season projections.
Featured image courtesy of Thomas Windestam.
Check out The Game Haus for more sports and esports articles written by our other great TGH like Kyle!
“From Our Haus to Yours”