Schippers took the Dutch title in 11.29 seconds, just ahead of number two Zoe Sedney (11.32). She was visibly happy with the win, but also knew that she is certainly not one of the best in an international top field at this time. Yet the time did not disappoint her, because Schippers had not been able to train properly for a week and a half due to a corona infection.
“That’s not nothing, it was hard for me,” she says about it in Apeldoorn. “A week ago I was still in bed and I couldn’t do anything. It really hit my lungs. I was not able to do the training work that I wanted to do, but I just wanted to walk here.” And then still panting: “I’m glad it’s only 100 meters.”
Schippers, who has struggled with chronic back problems in recent seasons, calls it ‘very crazy’, but also ‘logical’ that she will not participate in the World Cup. “I can only follow a full training schedule from April. The games come a little early. That is why we have decided not to aim for the World Cup, but for the European Championship. That is a bit later, so we have more time.”
The two-time world champion in the 200 meters says they need “choices like this” to make the next step. “I’m really bad at it, but sometimes those choices just have to be made. This is not the nicest, but it is the smartest choice. At the moment I have nothing to do at the World Cup. It’s better for me to continue training and make sure I’m good at the European Championships than to do things halfway. We don’t want to rush this year.”
She feels a lot better than last year. “I am very fit and only miss some training work. But I’m happy to be able to compete again. Last year I was in a lot of pain and then it is no longer fun.” Schippers still dreams of participating in next year’s World Cup and of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “I believe it is still there and I feel I can work towards something.”
Title for Bouju
In the men’s 100 meters the title went to Raphael Bouju, who also made up for a deficit in the second part of the race. His time of 10.27 was an improvement on his personal best of 10.35. Joris van Gool led the first part of the race, but Bouju passed him just before the finish. Van Gool’s time was 10.30. Hensley Paulina was third in 10.39.
Nick Smidt ran a personal best in the series of the 400 meter hurdles with 49.12. With that time he also met the limit of the European Championship in Munich in August. For the World Cup in Eugene it has to be a little faster with 48.90.
Rutger Koppelaar took the national pole vault title by going over 5.50 meters in one jump. Competitor Menno Vloon did not participate.
Para-athlete Fleur Jong improved her own world record in the long jump at the Dutch National Championships. The long jumper came to 6.40 meters. That was 17 centimeters further than the record she had set at 6.23 meters at the end of May. Jong competed with the able-bodied athletes at the Dutch National Championships. There Pauline Hondema took the Dutch title with 6.16 meters.