Femke Bol of the Netherlands stormed to her first World Championships gold in the women’s 400 metres hurdles on Thursday to put last week’s crushing relay heartbreak behind her.
The 23-year-old, second at last year’s Worlds and third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was level with American Shamier Little until just before the home straight but pulled away emphatically to cross the line well clear in 51.70 seconds.
It was a hugely satisfying win for Bol, who was in tears after falling metres from the line when racing for gold in the 4x400m mixed relay on the opening night of the meet.
“It wasn’t easy to forget what happened in the final metres of the relay but my team was around me and they put me at my ease,” said Bol, who covered her eyes in disbelief after crossing the line on Thursday.
“I took the first few hurdles fast and then I could run my rhythm,” Bol said of her strategy.
“I think I have just had the best first 200 metres ever. Then I just needed to finish the race which I could do easily.”
Little came second in 52.80, just holding off Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton who took the bronze in 52.81.
Jamaican triumphs
Antonio Watson won a thrilling men’s 400 metres gold as the 21-year-old Jamaican overhauled fading Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith on the line.
Hudson-Smith, who set a European record of 44.26 seconds in winning his heat this week but had been struggling with injury for most of the season, went out hard and was well clear coming off the final bend but that effort took its toll as he began to tie up, allowing Watson to drive through and win in 44.22 seconds.
Hudson-Smith, bronze medallist last year, took silver in 44.31 seconds, with American Quincy Hall also finishing strongly for bronze in a personal best 44.37 seconds, having been overtaken by Hudson-Smith within the first 80 metres.
Jamaica’s first gold in the event since Bert Cameron won at the inaugural World Championships 40 years ago came minutes after Danielle Williams had taken the country’s first gold in Budapest in the women’s 100m hurdles.
