LONDON: World champion Femke Bol set a new meet record as she cruised to victory in the women's 400m hurdles at Saturday's Diamond League in London.
In a final warm-up for the Paris Olympics, Bol clocked 51.30 seconds to beat by 0.15sec the previous best she'd set at the London Stadium last year.
"I truly love to run here in this stadium, it is so special, and to put on this great field it is fantastic," said Bol, who finished third in the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics when world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took gold.
"I am super happy with my performance today. I am working on my opening and getting to that first hurdle."
Bol became just the second woman to break the 51-second barrier in the gruelling event last weekend.
The Dutch athlete ran 50.95sec in Switzerland on Sunday to smash her own European record of 51.45.
Turning to Paris, Bol said the thought of competing against McLaughlin-Levrone was a mouth-watering one.
"I am excited for Paris and of course to put on my best race there," she said.
"I am looking forward to racing Sydney – that will push us both. I will be ready for it and the relay as well of course."
Bol said that racing McLaughlin-Levrone was both an inspiration and motivation.
Actually seeing McLaughlin-Levrone compete is a rarity on the circuit, but it is fair to say Bol is everywhere.
Already this season, she won the 400m flat at the world indoor championships in Glasgow in March, before claiming two more golds and a bronze at the European outdoor championships in Rome in June, not to mention her appearances at various track meets.
"Everyone has their own way," she said when asked about her and McLaughlin-Levrone's differing race schedules.
"We don't see each other a lot but we'll see each other in Paris!"
In London's race, American Shamier Little finished second in a season's best of 52.78sec, with Jamaican Rushell Clayton rounding out the podium (53.24).
Little, however, missed out on the three hurdling spots for the US team in the tough trials won by McLaughlin-Levrone in her world record time of 50.65sec.
But she will be heading to Paris as part of the women's 4x400m relay squad.
"I really wanted to stay upright today, stay focused and get a good time," she said.
"With the relay in Paris I am very excited as I love the team environment of the relay and the Olympics.
"I haven't done a relay at this level before so I am very excited. Being Team USA, we will expect to medal and get a good time so I want to be part of that of course." - AFP