Femke Bol Starts Strong with Double Sprint Run in Curacao Opener

April 29, 2024

Femke Bol, the reigning European Athlete of the Year, kicked off her outdoor campaign at the Competition Curacao, delivering strong performances across multiple events.

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In the 100m sprint, Femke Bol crossed the line in 11.47 seconds, securing third place behind Swiss sprinter Sarah Atcho, who finished in 11.28 seconds. Later, in the 150m race, Bol again claimed third, posting a time of 17.10 seconds, with Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands taking the victory in 16.96 seconds.

The event, which served as a crucial pre-World Relays test for athletes from the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Ukraine, witnessed notable performances across various disciplines. The Dutch 4x100m relay team clocked an impressive time of 38.30 seconds, outpacing Belgium, who set a national record with a time of 38.68 seconds.

Meanwhile, Switzerland dominated the women’s relay, crossing the line in 42.91 seconds, followed closely by Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the 400m races, Oleksandr Pohorilko of Ukraine set a new national record with a time of 44.94 seconds, edging out Liemarvin Bonevacia from the Netherlands, who finished in 45.21 seconds. Cathelijn Peeters of the Netherlands also made headlines, significantly improving her personal best with a time of 51.08 seconds in the women’s 400m, ahead of Belgium’s Naomi Van Den Broeck.

Dutch sprinters showed their prowess in the men’s 100m, with Hensey Paulina clocking 10.25 seconds and Churandy Martina posting a time of 10.36 seconds in another heat, marking Martina’s return to competition on his home island after nearly two decades. Eugene Omalla of the Netherlands secured victory in the 300m with a time of 32.68 seconds, while Taymir Burnet claimed victory in the 150m with a time of 15.28 seconds.

Belgium’s Helena Ponette impressed in the women’s 300m, crossing the line in 37.28 seconds, rounding off a day of outstanding performances at the Competition Curacao.