Niels Laros from Oosterhout continues to surprise at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The only 18-year-old athlete already surprised on Saturday by winning his series of the 1500 meters, on Sunday there was a new surprise with a successful performance in the semi-finals. Laros finished third in his race in a Dutch record of 3:32.74. He can run for the medals in the final on Wednesday.
Laros is the up and coming talent in the middle distance. This summer, the young Oosterhouter equaled Gert-Jan Liefers’ 22-year-old Dutch record with a time of 3:32.89. He is also the youngest competitor in the 1500 meters in Budapest. In the run-up to the World Cup, he won gold in the 1500 and 5000 meters at the European Championships under 20 in Jerusalem.
In the semi-finals, Laros walked along, sparingly against the edge of the inner lane. He could easily handle the high pace and went full along in the final sprint to the finish. Kenyan Yared Nuguse won the heat in 3:32.69.