LONDON, ENGLAND, July 23 — Femke Bol showed that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wouldn’t have had things entirely her own way at next month’s World Champs, if the latter hadn’t taken a sabbatical from the 400H. The Dutchwoman flew around the Olympic Stadium oval in 51.45.
Bol’s European Record has only ever been eclipsed on two occasions, by McLaughlin-Levrone, her two World Records from ’22: 51.41 and 50.68 at the USATF Champs and Worlds.
After a slightly sluggish start by her own standards — U.S. champion Shamier Little was the first to rise at the opening barrier — Bol soon had her motor purring to perfection and by the fifth hurdle had almost a half-second advantage over the rest of the field.
From that point, the only question was how quick would she run? The answer was very quick indeed, her strength coming to the fore over the final three hurdles as she finished 20m clear of the field.
“Amazing, I cannot believe it yet,” said the ever-smiling Bol. “To be honest, I felt really good at some points in the race, but I tried not to think about the goal. I felt so strong coming over the last hurdle so I’m really happy. I’ve been wanting to run a 51 ever since *Tokyo [the ’21 OG where she got bronze]. I had a feeling I could do it but I still can’t believe I’ve done it. I hope I can put up a great race at the World Championships and put on a great show, I hope I’m in even better shape than I am now.”
Behind Bol, Jamaica’s Janieve Russell came home 2nd in 53.75 to just hold off a fast-finishing Little, who finished 3rd in 53.76.
In a thrilling 5000 which saw the first 3 home in under 14:14, Alicia Monson’s American Record of 14:19.45 in 5th place went slightly under the radar.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay won in a 14:12.29 PR, the No. 5 performance ever, with Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet 2nd in 14:12.92.
The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan bagged a European Record of 14:13.42 after making much of the pace from 3K out after the pacemakers departed — which saw the leaders go through in 8:35.18 — but was being beaten for speed down the homestraight.
In 4th, Ethiopia’s 18-year-old Medina Elsa hung on for a World Junior (U20) Record of 14:16.54 after being with the leading trio until the bell.
Monson bravely decided to go with the leading quartet from 3K and latched herself onto the back of the leading group over the next 2 laps but with 3 to go couldn’t stay with the quartet in front of her.
Nevertheless, the Dathan Ritzenhein-coached Wisconsin alum gamely kept to her task and finished off with a 66.7 last lap to take down Shelby Houlihan’s 2020 NR of 14:23.02.
“I went into this race not with high expectations,” Monson said. “I knew there was a possibility I could get the American Record, but I just really wanted to be competitive. I’m looking at the Worlds and I’m still undecided whether I’m going to do the 5 or 10K, that decision is going to be made after this race.
“At halfway, I was starting to have flashbacks to Paris when I wish I’d tried to stay with the leaders so when the second pacer dropped out, I just stayed with the women in front of me.
“They increased the pace, and I just tried to stick with it, and stick with it, especially as they were acting as a wind block. In the end everything turned out well and I’m just so happy.”
Someone else who was very happy as well was LJer Quanesha Burks who soared to victory with a 22-10¾ (6.98) PR on her very first jump. It was a nice bounce back for Burks after her disappointing 9th in Monaco on Friday night.
“It feels amazing, especially when just the other day we were in Monaco, and I missed the final 8 by one spot,” reflected the Oregon22 4th-placer. “This just shows with this sport that if you can be physically ready but you have to be mentally ready as well. My first jump, I just let go of the past.
“It doesn’t matter what I did in the past, it’s about right now. I just let the pressure go and understand that the next jump is going to be a brand-new jump. I never let each jump define my next one.”
Katie Moon almost added to the tally of U.S. field wins but had to settle for 2nd in the PV despite clearing 15-9 (4.80).
The ’21 OG and ’22 WC gold medalist needed three attempts at that height while Wilma Murto managed it on her second attempt. With both women failing three times at 15-11¼ (4.86), the win went to the Finn.
Sha’Carri Richardson withdrew from the 100 after her hamstring felt sore while warming up. But even fully fit she still might have struggled to keep pace with Marie-Josée Ta Lou as the Ivoirian clocked 10.75.
Also very worthy of note, Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech ran a steeple world lead of 8:57.35, beating her compatriot, namesake Beatrice Chepkoech, the WR holder, by almost 7 seconds.
LONDON WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(1.2): 1. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 10.75; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 10.85; 3. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 10.94; 4. Daryll Neita (GB) 10.96; 5. Aleia Hobbs (US) 10.99; 6. TeeTee Terry (US) 10.99; 7. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.09; 8. Anthonique Strachan (Bah) 11.13.
800: 1. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:57.30; 2. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 1:57.61; 3. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:57.62 NR; 4. Catriona Bisset (Aus) 1:57.78 NR; 5. Katie Snowden (GB) 1:58.00 PR; 6. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 1:58.64; 7. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:58.98 (WC Q); 8. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 2:03.98;… rabbit—Aneta Lemiesz (Pol) (56.53).
St: 1. Jackline Chepkoech (Ken) 8:57.35 PR (WL) (7, 10 W);
2. Beatrice Chepkoech (Ken) 9:04.34 (6:01.07); 3. Aimee Pratt (GB) 9:16.10; 4. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:17.21; 5. Flavie Renouard (Fra) 9:19.07 PR; 6. Krissy Gear (US) 9:25.49; 7. Alicja Konieczek (Pol) 9:30.19; 8. Juliane Hvid (Den) 9:33.40 PR; 9. Irene Sánchez-Escribano (Spa) 9:33.64; 10. Michelle Finn (Ire) 9:34.76;… rabbit—Fancy Cherono (Ken) (2:54.98).
5000: 1. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 14:12.29 PR (4, 5 W) (68.2, 70.4 [2:18.6], 68.2 [3:26.8], 68.4 [4:35.2], 68.2 [5:43.4], 69.0 [6:52.4], 68.9 [8:01.3], 69.6 [9:10.9], 68.5 [10:19.4], 69.2 [11:28.6], 69.1 [12:37.7], 65.7 [13:43.4], 28.9) (14.1) (2:52.7, 2:50.7 [5:43.4], 2:52.3 [8:35.7], 2:52.9 [11:28.6], 2:43.7); 2. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 14:12.92 PR (7, 8 W) (14.4, 29.1); 3. Sifan Hassan (Neth) 14:13.42 NR (9, 12 W) (11:28.24) (15.3, 30.2);
4. Medina Eisa (Eth) 14:16.54 WJR (old WJR 14:30.88 Tirunesh Dibaba [Eth] ’04) (12, x W);
5. Alicia Monson (US) 14:19.45 AR (old AR 14:23.92 Shelby Houlihan [NikBowTC] ’20) (14, x W) (68.6, 71.1 [2:19.7], 68.2 [3:27.9], 68.6 [4:36.5], 68.3 [5:44.8], 68.6 [6:53.4], 68.6 [8:02.0], 69.6 [9:11.6], 68.7 [10:20.3], 69.2 [11:29.5], 68.9 [12:38.4], 67.7 [13:46.1], 33.4) (16.6) (2:53.7, 2:51.1 [5:44.8], 2:51.4 [8:36.2], 2:53.3 [11:29.5], 2:50.0);
6. Birke Haylom (Eth) 14:37.94 WYR (old WYR 14:45.71 Liqing Song [Chn] ’97) (5, 6 WJ);
7. Melknat Wedu (Eth) 14:39.36 PR (6, 7 WJ);
8. Nadia Battocletti (Ita) 14:41.30 NR; 9. Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (Nor) 14:45.24; 10. Senayet Getachew (Eth) 14:46.25 PR;
11. Elly Henes (US) 14:47.15 PR (10, x A);
12. Maureen Koster (Neth) 14:47.52 PR; 13. Teresia Gateri (Ken) 14:53.62; 14. Girmawit Gebrzihair (Eth) 14:54.01; 15. Megan Keith (GB) 14:56.98 PR; 16. Josette Andrews (US) 15:04.39;… rabbits—Rose Davies (Aus) (2:51.80), Margaret Akidor (Ken) (5:42.60, 8:35.18).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 4–5, 11–12)
400H: 1. Femke Bol (Neth) 51.45 NR (WL) (2, 3 W);
2. Janieve Russell (Jam) 53.75; 3. Shamier Little (US) 53.76; 4. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 53.97; 5. Jessie Knight (GB) 54.09 =PR; 6. Viktoriya Tkachuk (Ukr) 54.25; 7. Anna Ryzhykova (Ukr) 54.53; 8. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 55.52.
Non-DL 4 x 100: 1. Netherlands 42.38 (Jiya, Seedo, van Hunenstijn, Samuel); 2. United States 42.47 (Terry, Bryant, Hobbs, Jefferson); 3. Great Britain 42.59; 4. Great Britain B 42.92; 5. Australia 43.46; 6. Belgium 43.90.
Field Events
PV: 1. Wilma Murto (Fin) 15-9 (4.80) (14-3½ [2], 14-9½, 15-1¾, 15-5½ [2], 15-9 [2], 15-11¼ [xxx]) (4.36 [2], 4.51, 4.62, 4.71 [2], 4.80 [2], 4.86 [xxx]); 2. Katie Moon (US) 15-9 (14-9½, 15-1¾, 15-5½, 15-9 [3], 15-11¼ [xxx]) (4.51, 4.62, 4.71, 4.80 [3], 4.86 [xxx]); 3. Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-5½ (4.71); 4. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-5½; 5. Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) 15-1¾ (4.62); 6. tie, Roberta Bruni (Ita) & Sandi Morris (US) 14-9½ (4.51); 8. Molly Caudery (GB) 14-9½; 9. Alysha Newman (Can) 14-3½ (4.36);… nh—Holly Bradshaw (GB).
LJ: 1. Quanesha Burks (US) 22-10¾ (6.98) PR (22-10¾, 21-11, 21-5½, 22-3, 21-2¾w, 21-7¼w) (6.98, 6.68, 6.54, 6.78, 6.47w, 6.58w); 2. Brooke Buschkuehl (Aus) 22-¾w (6.72) (21-8¾, f, 22-¼, f, 22-¾w, f) (6.62, f, 6.71, f, 6.72w, f); 3. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 22-¾w (6.72) (21-9, 21-8¾, 21-11½, 21-8¾, 22-¾w, 21-11¾w) (6.63, 6.62, 6.69, 6.62, 6.72w, 6.70w); 4. Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 21-10¾ (6.67); 5. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GB) 21-8 (6.60); 6. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr) 21-4¾ (6.52); 7. Ivana Vuleta (Ser) 21-4¼ (6.51).