Femke Bol is happy that she ran a fast time right away in her first race of the season on Sunday. The reigning world champion in the 400-meter hurdles has adjusted her race plan, and it seems to be working out well so far.
“I’m satisfied with this start. The execution was pretty good for a first race,” Bol says on Monday in Rabat at an online press conference. The 25-year-old Dutch athlete is still in the Moroccan capital, where she impressed at the Diamond League on Sunday.
Bol convincingly won her first competition of the outdoor season in 52.46. That was faster than in her opening races in recent years. “This time is confirmation that I’m doing well. I felt fit and sharp, but in such a first race, it can go either way. Now it went the right way. I’m happy that I was able to open so quickly.”
Bol ran in Rabat for the first time according to her new race plan. She now starts with her “weaker leg” in front of the block. Her take-off leg is therefore also different at the first hurdle, and the number of steps between the hurdles has also been slightly adjusted.
“After last season, we evaluated what could be improved. One of the conclusions was that things weren’t quite going well at hurdles 6 and 7. Moreover, I want to finish a race with my good leg. That’s why we adjusted the technique. We have worked hard on this in training in recent months and are now carrying it through in competitions.”
‘Not yet at my peak’
Bol’s fast time gives confidence for the rest of the season, with the World Championships in Tokyo in September as the most important moment.
“But it’s too early to draw conclusions after just one race. I can’t say yet whether I’ll run another personal record this year. But I do know that I’m not yet at my peak.”
Bol’s next competition is the FBK Games on June 9 in Hengelo. “I’m going to stay in Rabat for a while to continue working on my form and technique. And then I hope to be even sharper and fresher at the start of the FBK Games.”
Bol is not the only appealing Dutch name participating in the FBK Games. Lieke Klaver will start in the 200 meters, and Nadine Visser will compete in the 100-meter hurdles. Sifan Hassan will not be there, unlike last year.