Maybe not the most surprising, but probably the most impressive World Indoor gold on Saturday evening came from Femke Bol. The Dutch star improved her own world record, running 49.17 seconds in the 400 meters, ahead of compatriot Lieke Klaver.
“My previous world record two weeks ago was not my best race,” admitted Bol after her first World Indoor gold medal.
“I was focused on the world record. I knew I had to start fast, because I didn’t know what the two Americans were going to do.”
Now again it’s time for an ice bath as Bol waits for the 4×400 meters on Sunday (11h38 heats and 20h30 final). Of course, she will be accompanied by Lieke Klaver, who took her first individual world silver, running 50.16 seconds, almost a personal best.
“However, I was not looking at a time. I didn’t expect a sub 50 seconds today,” she said.
The men’s final was won by Belgium’s Alexander Doom, who beat the Norwegian favourite Karsten Warholm, after a thrilling last 50 metres in which Doom overtook Warholm, the leader from the start until that moment.
KERR KEEPS GOING
New distance, no problem for Josh Kerr. The world champion in the 1500 meters brought cheers to his home crowd by beating Yared Nuguse and Selemon Barega in a very fast last 100 meters.
In the women’s event, America’s Elle Purrier St. Pierre took ‘a very emotional win’ by beating Ethiopia’s favourite Gudaf Tsegay on the home straight. Emotional, for example because it was her first medal after becoming a mother.
FAMILY BUSINESS
England’s Molly Caudery also got big applause by taking gold in the pole vault, an event marred by Margot Chevrier incident.
The French suffered a broken ankle and had to be stretchered out of the arena in a dramatica fashion. After clearing 4.55 metres, Chevrier suffered the injury in her first attempt at clearing the next height of 4.65m.
According to the French Athletics Federation, Chevrier ‘fell into the barrier’ and immediately required treatment.
Molly Caudery’s win came with 4.80 meters, the same height as Eliza McCartney.
“I could not be here without my family. When growing up, they drove me hours to competitions and it took them 10 hours to come here.”
St. Lucia’s Julie Afred surprised with gold in the 60 meters.
“I am so happy, so overwhelmed and ecstatic,” she told reporters in the mixed zone.
Grant Holloway did what the athletics fan was expecting: running a championship record of 7.29 seconds and taking another title in the 60 meters hurdles.
Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Fasso won the triple jump.
Earlier in the day, there was a big competition in the men’s long jump. The Greek Miltiadis Tentoglou jumped 8.22, the same distance as the Italian Mattia Furlani. However, Tentoglou had the best second jump of the two, claiming another gold on world’s stage.
Credit: AIPS Media
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