The fourth athletics evening of the Olympic Games could have gone down in history before it had even started. Never before had two Dutchmen been at the start of the 1500 metres at the Olympic Games. Stefan Nillessen and Niels Laros competed in the distance. Earlier in the evening, Femke Bol qualified for the 400-metre hurdles final. Unfortunately, Cathelijn Peeters did not make it to the final.
Niels Laros stunts and finishes 6th in the 1500 meters in a national record
Niels Laros finishes 6th in the final 1500 meters at the Olympic Games in Paris. He breaks his own personal record (and national record). This was 3.31.25 and is now 3.29.54!
Stefan Nillessen takes a great 9th place in new PB
Stefan Nillessen takes 9th place and finishes in a brand new PB of 3.30.75. His old personal record was only two days old, he ran it on Sunday evening during the semi-final (3.32.73).
Kerr vs. Ingebrigtsen, but Hocker takes the win
The favourites of the field were the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen and the English Josh Kerr. A long-feared duel, because the two athletes can’t stand each other. After the semi-final – where Ingebrigtsen also ran against Kerr – the press asked the Norwegian how the race against Kerr went. He answered: ‘Did he also participate? I didn’t see him.’ Jakob Ingebrigtsen makes the race hard from the starting shot. But with 100 meters to go, not only Kerr, but also Cole Hocker (USA) and Yared Nuguse (USA) overtake the Norwegian. Hocker wins the duel with Kerr and runs a new Olympic record in a phenomenal time of 3:27.65. Kerr takes the silver in a new PB 3:27.79 and Yared Nuguse runs 3:27.80 and wins bronze. Ingebrigtsen can therefore go home empty-handed.
History for the Netherlands in the 1500 meters
It was the first time in twenty years that a Dutch male athlete reached the 1500m final, and now there were two men on the starting line at the Stade de France.
The 19-year-old Niels Laros broke through during the world championships in Budapest. He improved his personal record continuously and set a Dutch record for the distance. And he showed that he is fit during the FBK games earlier this summer. He broke the world record for the 1000 meters under 20 years.
The 21-year-old Stefan Nillessen from Groesbeek worked as a barman in a pub last year, but tonight he was at the start in a full Stade de France. In the semi-finals he surprised himself with a place in the final and a new PR (3:32.73). His expectations before the Games? ‘I know that if I run the race like I have run the past few weeks, with a strong last lap, I have a chance for the next round. And if I run a good race there again, maybe even for the final. Of course I’m going for it,’ he told Runner’s World. He has already achieved that goal with flying colours!
Femke Bol through to the 400m hurdles final
Femke Bol qualified for the final of the 400m hurdles in a controlled manner. Bol crossed the finish line first in the third and final series of the semi-final. Behind Bol, Anna Cockrell and Shiann Salmon fought for the second big Q. Cockrell comes out on top and runs 52.90. After her series, Femke spoke to Eurosport: ‘I extended my 14-step a bit further than during the series. I was able to save energy in the last part, I’m satisfied.’
In the second series, Bol’s biggest competitor, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, also won her series by a wide margin. She ran the 400m hurdles in 52.13, after her Louise Maraval (53.83) also qualified for the final. After the series, she spoke to Eurosport about the atmosphere in the stadium: ‘I have never been able to race in such a stadium with so many athletics fans, that is really great. I am looking forward to the final, I know that we (Femke and she) will push each other to the maximum result.’
The battle between Bol and McLaughlin-Levrone kicks off on Thursday night at 9:45 PM!
Cathelijn Peeters fails to reach 400m hurdles final
Cathelijn Peeters started in the first series of the three. Unfortunately, Peeters came up short for a spot in the final. She finished 7th in her series with a time of 55.20. Jamaican Clayton Rushell won the series in 53.00, the other Q went to Jasmine Jones from America (53.83).
Curious which athletes will be in action tomorrow? See the full athletics program here.
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