Femke Broeders-Bol wins in Hengelo (© World Athletics 
Sergio Mateo Maria)
Femke Broeders-Bol and Niels Laros delighted home fans at the FBK Games, the Dutch stars dominating the 800m races at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Hengelo on Sunday (21).
Five days on from making her outdoor 800m debut in Ostrava where she ran 1:57.13, Broeders-Bol clinched her first outdoor win over the distance in 1:57.41.
Always in control, the two-time world 400m hurdles champion kicked off the final bend, chased by Australia’s Xiamen Diamond League winner Abbey Caldwell. But Broeders-Bol couldn’t be caught, Caldwell settling for second in 1:58.22, while Clara Liberman of France was third in a PB of 1:58.69 as the top six all dipped under two minutes.
"I expected to be in front after 500 metres, which was different than in Ostrava," said Broeders-Bol. "I have to practice all these types of races. Today I wanted to run a good first 500 metres and then accelerate towards the finish."
In his first race since the World Championships in Tokyo in September following injury, Olympic and world 1500m finalist Laros impressed over two laps of the track, improving his 800m PB to 1:43.83 – his first time under 1:44.
He led a Dutch top two, European indoor champion Samuel Chapple finishing second in 1:44.63, narrowly ahead of Croatia’s Marino Bloudek who clocked the same time.
Niels Laros celebrates his 800m win at the FBK Games (© World Athletics 
Sergio Mateo Maria)
Dutch record-holder Jessica Schilder closed the shot put contest in style, throwing 20.03m in the final round to make it eight competitions so far this year in which she has surpassed 20 metres.
The world champion, who threw a Diamond League record of 21.09m in Shanghai – the best throw in the world since 2012, led the contest on home soil from the first round. That 19.52m would have been enough to win but she improved with her last attempt, leading a Dutch one-two ahead of Jorinde van Klinken (19.34m).
Dutch record-holder Nadine Visser was another home winner, clocking 12.52 into a significant headwind (-1.8m/s) to top the 100m hurdles. Belgium’s Michael Obasuyi won the 110m hurdles in 13.30 (-1.3m/s).
Jamaica’s 2022 world U20 200m champion Brianna Lyston dipped under 11 seconds to win the 100m. Running 10.99 (-0.6m/s), she pipped home sprinter Minke Bisschops who equalled her season’s best of 11.08.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Bradley Nkoana led a competitive men’s 100m – both clocking 10.08 (-1.8m/s), Simbine clinching victory by three thousandths of a second. The top six were separated by just 0.06, Ronnie Baker getting third in 10.11.
Bassant Hemida improved her Egyptian record to 50.10 to win the 400m after a storming finish. The 29-year-old strode past Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley and home favourite Lieke Klaver in the closing stages as they respectively clocked a 50.14 PB and 50.60. World indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel finished fourth in 50.76.
Jonas Phijffers was roared to victory by his home crowd in the men's 400m, holding on to deny Botswana’s Lee Eppie. Phijffers dipped to victory in 44.84, just 0.05 ahead of Eppie. Eugene Omalla was third in a PB of 45.03.
USA’s 2023 world road mile bronze medallist Sam Prakel won a close 1500m in 3:33.23, 0.03 ahead of France’s Paul Anselmini. The men’s 5000m ended in a three-way battle, Uganda’s world U20 bronze medallist Keneth Kiprop holding on to deny Saymon Amanuel and Dolphine Chelimo in a fierce fight to the finish. Kiprop clocked 13:13.43, 0.05 ahead of Eritrea’s Amanuel. Uganda’s Chelimo was third in a PB of 13:13.72.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh in Hengelo (© World Athletics Sergio Mateo Maria)
Ukraine’s world record-holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh maintained her unbeaten year, clearing a best of 1.94m in the high jump. The Olympic champion entered the contest at 1.91m and managed that and her winning height on her second attempts. She then had three tries at 2.00m. Mahuchikh will be back in Continental Tour Gold action in Croatia, as part of the standalone Zagreb City Challenge at the Zagreb Fountains on Wednesday (24).
Germany’s Henrik Janssen threw 68.21m in the third round to win the discus ahead of Chile’s Claudio Romero (67.61m).
Burkina Faso’s world finalist Marthe Koala leapt 6.77m (0.0m/s) in the second round to win the long jump ahead of Italy’s Larissa Iapichino. The Diamond League champion was just four centimetres off Koala’s leading mark with 6.73m (-0.6m/s) from the final round.
USA’s Olympic and world medallist Chris Nilsen won the pole vault, achieving first-time clearances up to his winning height of 5.82m before taking three attempts at 6.01m.
