The Dutch Relay Teams of the 4×400 meters Women and the 4×100 meters Men Were happy that they had to run their world cup finals in Tokyo on Sunday in the pouring rain. Both Teams won Bronze on a Soaking Act track.
Xavi Mo-Ajok, the third runner in the 4×100 meter team, Saw in the so-called call room (the room where the teams have to wait just before the final) that it it had Suddenly Started Raining Very Hard in the Japan National Stadium. “I immediately said: We are used to this. It’s like we are at home.”
Accordance to Mo-Ajok, IT was just an advantage for the Netherlands. “Other Countries are not used to it, we are. We have run a competition in the pouring rain in Lisse, with Strong Headwinds. Well, then you can handle this too.”
The Dutch Quartet – which in Addition to Mo -Ajok consisted or Nsikak Ekpo, Taymir Burnet and Elvis Afrifa – Equally Ran its best race ever on the law track and finished in a Dutch Record of 37.81 Seconds.
It Meant the First Dutch World Cup medal in the 4×100 meters Since the bronze of the Dutch Men in 2003 in Paris. “Many competitors did not see us as a threat,” Said Ekpo. “That’s not crazy, after so many years without a medal. But we don’t care. We were here to perform and we can. Whether it rains or not.”
‘It’s good for my curls’
The Rain was also positively recurred by the Dutch Women of the 4×400 meters. “I was very happy when I saw the track,” Said Lisanne de Witte, the third runner of the team, which also consisted of Lieke Klaver, Eveline Saalberg and Femke Bol.
Klaver: “When we walked outside, it was nice and cool. It is a disadvantage for other country to run in the rain, not for us. I train in the rain so often.” Laughing: “It’s good for my curls.”
The Dutch Women finished well behind the American team, which was expected to be the best. Jamaica was also faster than the Dutch quartet and so it Became Bronze.
It is Already the Third Medal for the Dutch Women in the 4×400 Meters at a Global Tournament in A Row, After Gold at the World Cup in 2023 in Budapest and Silver at the Games in Paris. “We win a medal every time, that makes me proud,” Said Bol. “We are very strong, also in Breadth. I could remain the series yesterday, because the other girls can do it too. That’s so nice.”
Due to the Two Bronze Medals for the Netherlands on the Final Day, Tokyo Will Go Down in the Books As The Most Successful World Cup for Dutch Athletics Ever. The Netherlands took a Total of Six Medals and Finished Fourth in the Medal Table.