Niels Laros from Oosterhout has impressively won the 1,500 meters in Zurich at the Diamond League final. The only 20-year-old Laros also improved the Dutch record with a time of 3.29.20.
Laros analyzed his race at the NOS afterwards and spoke of ‘a messy race’. “I came in a good position for the last corner,” he said. “I know I have a good final sprint and I trusted it. I am very happy and go to Tokyo with great confidence. I hope to take the next step there. The expectations are now high, but we have to stay realistic. Of course I dream off the stage.”
European Talent of the Year
Laros is the first Dutch man to take the final victory of the Diamond League since in 2010 the largest competition series in the global athletics takes place. The Dutch women Dafne Schippers, Sifan Hassan (three titles) and Femke Bol (four) did lead Laros.
Laros, chosen as European Talent of the Year last year, has already impressed the 1500 meters in the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels and the English miles at the Diamond League of Eugene in recent weeks.
At the European Championship under 23 in Bergen, Norwegian, Laros grabbed gold in the 800 meters and the 5000 meters. The 1500 meters is the distance that Laros is best and at which he finished in sixth place last year in the Olympic final in Paris. For the World Cup in Tokyo, Laros also qualified on the 800 and 5000 meters, but focuses on the 1500 meters.