Femke Bol, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 400m hurdles, is set to extend her remarkable performance this season when she competes in another flat 400-meter race in the 1st Division of the Silesia 2023 European Athletics Team Championships at the Slaski Stadium in Chorzow on Friday (24).
Bol, who has been in exceptional form in both the 400m hurdles and the flat 400m, is anticipated to demonstrate her capabilities once again, although the Dutch star will face notable challenge from a home favorite. The 23-year-old, who shattered the world indoor record with a stunning time of 49.26 seconds in February, is not the current European outdoor leader in the event.
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The three-time European champion recorded a season-best time of 50.11 seconds to secure victory at the 2023 FBK Games in Hengelo on 4 June. However, her time, which ranks 8th globally this season, trails the 50.02 seconds set by Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek on the same day in Chorzów.
Given their respective performances leading up to these championships, it is likely that a time faster than 50 seconds will be required to secure maximum points here this Friday.
Kaczmarek, who boasts a personal best of 49.86 seconds, clinched a silver medal behind her Dutch competitor at the European Championships in Munich last summer. Bol, on the other hand, established her outdoor personal best of 49.44 seconds when she outperformed her Polish rival at the championships in Germany.
Also competing in the women’s 400m dash in the 1st Division of the Silesia 2023 European Athletics Team Championships are Great Britain’s Ama Pipi, Portugal’s Cátia Azevedo, and Belgium’s Cynthia Bolingo Mbongo.
