There was modest joy among the Dutch relay runners who won silver in the mixed 4×400 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. “We are really happy, but also tired. Maybe that’s why we don’t seem so enthusiastic,” said Lieke Klaver after the race in the Hayward Field stadium.
“I can’t let my emotions go 100 percent yet because the tournament has just started and we are on the track even more often and want even more medals,” said Femke Bol, who almost helped the Dutch foursome to gold. She made up for a big gap on the athletes of the United States and the Dominican Republic in the last 100 meters and missed the victory by 8 hundredths of a second.
“I barely understood what was happening myself. How could I have come second, I thought. I was far behind? But I did feel very good during my race,” said Bol, who was even shocked by her split time. The specialist in the 400 meters hurdles clocked 48.95. “That is bizarre. Under 49 seconds is very hard. That can only mean that I am in top form. But we also ran very well, because 3.09.90 was a Dutch record.”
surpass
Klaver also surpassed himself with a split of 49.32. She already performed that in the series earlier in the day. “I walked this morning after the series with goosebumps on my arms. It is a dream to run in those 49 seconds and that I have now done it again in the final is incredibly a lot of confidence. I’m looking forward to Sunday,” said the Enkhuizense, who then comes out individually in the series of 400 meters.
It’s Bol’s turn again on Tuesday. Then she runs the series of the 400 meter hurdles, the number on which she won bronze at the Games in Tokyo. “We’re going to experience it. It’s cool to run against the Americans in this stadium. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Liemarvin Bonevacia seemed the least happy of the bunch. He ran significantly slower in the final than in the series. “I may still feel some fatigue, but I have to discuss the race with my coach. But it can’t be bad if you run a Dutch record.”