400m star Femke Bol beat her own world record at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and secured the gold medal with a great show.
The 24-year-old Dutchwoman, outdoor world champion in the 400 m hurdles, triumphed over 400 m without obstacles in 49.17 seconds on Saturday evening, relegating her compatriot Lieke Klaver to second place by an incredible 0.99 seconds. The American Alexis Holmes took bronze (50.24).
Bol had only improved the indoor world record over two laps to 49.24 in mid-February. With the exception of the Olympics, Bol has now won gold at every major international championship.
In the men’s category, the Norwegian Karsten Warholm, Olympic champion and world champion in the 400 m hurdles, suffered a defeat. In 45.34 seconds, the world record holder came in second, nine hundredths slower than the Belgian Alexander Doom.
In the women’s 60 meters, Julien Alfred from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia (188,000 inhabitants) surprisingly took gold. The 21-year-old won in the world’s best time of 6.98 seconds. The American Grant Holloway (7.29) underlined his exceptional position in the men’s 60 m hurdles.
To the great cheers of the fans, the Scot Josh Kerr surprisingly won over 3000 meters. It was the first world title by a European on this track in almost three decades. The American Elle St. Pierre won the women’s event.
From a German perspective, as expected, the second medal of the World Indoor Championships did not materialize after shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye’s surprise silver on Friday. Long jumper Simon Batz surprised in fourth with 8.06 m. Triple jumper Max Heß had no chance in the fight for the medals with 16.66 m, the 2016 European outdoor champion came ninth.