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Femke Bol & Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set up intriguing 400mH final after nonchalantly coasting through the semis.
Holland’s sprint sensation Femke Bol is on the verge of securing her second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after an impressive performance in the third semi-final of the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
Bol, who is one of the favorites for the title, won her heat in commanding fashion, setting up an intriguing final against the reigning Olympic champion, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, on Thursday night.
The semi-final was not without drama, as the start was delayed due to an issue raised by Anna Cockrell of the USA.
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21:00 - 06.08.2024
Quincy Hall, Kirani James & Mathew Hudson Smith set the tone for explosive 400m final
Top performers Quincy Hall, Kirani James and Matthew Hudson-Smith qualify for the men's 400m final at the Paris Olympics.
Cockrell, who experienced disqualification in the final of the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, signaled for a green flag, which temporarily halted the race. Once the matter was resolved, the race resumed with Cockrell getting off to a strong start.
However, Bol quickly took control before the curve and maintained her lead through to the finish, securing her place in the final. Cockrell finished second, securing the other qualification spot, while Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon came in third.
Bol, who has already contributed to the Netherlands' gold medal tally in the 4x400 meters mixed relay, will now turn her focus to challenging McLaughlin-Levrone for the top spot in the final.
McLaughlin-Levrone, also a strong contender, demonstrated her dominance in the second semi-final, effortlessly winning with a time of 52.13 seconds.
She created a significant gap of over one second to the runner-up, France's Louise Maraval, who received strong support from the home crowd.
In the first semi-final, Jamaica’s Rushel Clayton showcased her prowess, sailing through in a time of 53.00 seconds. Clayton controlled the race from start to finish, smoothly navigating the hurdles and finishing strongly to claim victory.
Jasmine Jones of the United States followed in second place with a time of 53.83 seconds, while Britain’s Lina Nielsen experienced heartbreak. Nielsen, who was in contention for third place, stumbled after the final hurdle and ultimately finished last, ending her Olympic hopes.
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