World Champs Womenâ€s 400H — Bol Made Her Roll Look Easy

“I know the race will get hard, 400m hurdles always does†said Femke Bol after taking her second straight Worlds title. “I was focused on myself and running for my life until I made it through the line.†(TAKAHASHI ITO/AGENCE SHOT)

THIS COMPETITION FEATURED perhaps the meetâ€s most prohibitive female favorite in the person of Femke Bol. She owned the top 7 performances among entrants, and 8 of the top 9. Fresh off a relaxed 50.06 anchor leg in the mixed relay, the 2023 champion could seemingly be denied only by injury or a colossal upset.

The heats provided one surprise when Canadaâ€s Savannah Sutherland, 2nd fastest starter after Bol with her NCAA meet-record time, ran listlessly and was eliminated. The three Americans, all of whom matriculated at USC, were easy heat winners.

The first semi matched Jasmine Jones, fastest in the heats at 53.18, against the much-improved 25-year-old Slovak, Emma Zapletalová, author of 5 national records in 2025. But in the best effort of her career, Panamaâ€s Gianna Woodruff, 7th at the â€21 Olympics and â€22 Worlds, led all the way for a 52.66 PR, a South American area record. Jones was 2nd in 53.01, ahead of the Slovakâ€s 53.22.

The second- and third-fastest of all time met in semi 2, as Bol followed Dalilah Muhammadâ€s lead for the first 180 meters before moving past for a 52.31–53.14 win. Anna Cockrell took the third semi easily in 53.28.

The draw for the final placed Bol in lane 5, with Cockrell, Jones, Woodruff and Muhammad outside her in lanes 6–9.

First to touch down after hurdle 1 was Muhammad, followed by Jones, Bol and Cockrell. By hurdle 3, it was Bol and Cockrell, then Jones. At the 200 (24.37), Bol, alternating lead legs through 6, had established a slight lead, which grew around the curve as Jones took over 2nd, Cockrell remained 3rd, and Muhammad faded.

With 100 remaining, Bol (37.45) led Jones (37.69) by a long meter and Cockrell by 3. The suddenly alive Zapletalová ran another 4m back but was moving past Woodruff and Muhammad.

The Dutchwoman evinced no strain and won easily in 51.54. Jones hung on gamely and took silver in a PR 52.08, while Zapletalová produced a terrific stretch run and a great lean to edge Cockrell for the bronze.

“This year we changed some things in training to get better at finishing the race,†said Bol. “Today I tried to keep my speed, pushing and cruising. The last 100 was the best Iâ€ve had all season.â€

Jones: “This is a huge relief. I really wanted a podium, so to have this silver is not too shabby. The first hurdle is the toughest one. Coming home is the easiest part for me.â€

Muhammad, certainly one of the finest to ever contest this event, said, “The thing about getting older in this sport is you have to deal with injuries. I have been dealing with so much, and having a lot of mixed emotions. Watching the girls grow, itâ€s been so motivating for me.â€

WOMENâ€S 400 HURDLES RESULTS

FINAL (September 19)

1. Femke Bol (Neth) 51.54 (WL) (x, 9 W)

(12.35, [12.02 [24.37], 13.08 [37.45], 14.09);

2. Jasmine Jones (US) 52.08 PR (5, x W; 4, x A)

(12.45, 12.15 [24.60], 13.09 [37.69], 14.39);

3. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 53.00 NR

(12.81, 12.25 [25.06], 13.51 [38.57], 14.43);

4. Anna Cockrell (US) 53.13

(12.39, 12.15 [24.54], 13.47 [38.01], 15.12);

5. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 53.34

(12.47, 12.51 [24.98], 13.69 [38.67], 14.67);

6. Naomi Van Den Broeck (Bel) 53.70

(12.81, 12.64 [25.45], 13.68 [39.13], 14.57);

7. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 54.82

(12.42, 12.57 [24.99], 13.68 [38.67], 16.15);

8. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 56.27

(12.54, 12.77 [25.31], 14.07 [39.38], 16.89).

(lanes: 2. Zapletalova; 3. van den Broeck; 4. Salmon; 5. Bol; 6. Cockrell; 7. Jones; 8. Woodruff; 9. Muhammad)

(reaction times: 0.149 Muhammad, 0.159 Cockrell, 0.174 Jones, 0.175 Zapletalova, 0.176 van den Broeck, 0.187 Woodruff, 0.197 Bol, 0.203 Salmon)

HEATS (September 15)

I–1. Bol 53.75; 2. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 54.67; 3. Van Den Broeck 54.70; 4. Kemi Adekoya (Bhr) 55.15; 5. Hilla Uusimäki (Fin) 55.52; 6. Michelle Smith (VI) 56.00; 7. Rogail Joseph (SA) 56.20; 8. Alanah Yukich (Aus) 56.68; 9. Robyn Brown (Phi) 57.03.

II–1. Cockrell 53.63; 2. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 53.74; 3. Fatoumata Diallo (Por) 54.54; 4. Daniela Ledecká (Svk) 54.86; 5. Eileen Demes (Ger) 55.03; 6. Tia Adana Belle (Bar) 55.27; 7. Grace Claxton (PR) 56.14; 8. Moa Granat (Swe) 56.32.

III–1. Jones 53.18; 2. Zapletalová 54.15; 3. Amalie Hammild Iuel (Nor) 54.65; 4. Elena Kelety (Ger) 54.74; 5. Paulien Couckuyt (Bel) 55.08; 6. Kristiina Halonen (Fin) 55.42; 7. Sára Mátó (Hun) 56.11; 8. Daniela Fra (Spa) 56.88.

IV–1. Muhammad 53.80; 2. Salmon 54.21; 3. Woodruff 54.60; 4. Rebecca Sartori (Ita) 55.11; 5. Sarah Carli (Aus) 55.24; 6. Lina Nielsen (GB) 55.82; 7. Daniela Rojas (CRC) 56.08; 8. Ashley Miller (Zim) 56.35.

V–1. Alice Muraro (Ita) 54.36 PR; 2. Emily Newnham (GB) 54.59; 3. Jiadie Mo (Chn) 54.63 PR; 4. Zeney Van Der Walt (SA) 55.32; 5. Savannah Sutherland (Can) 55.68; 6. Anna Maria Gryc (Pol) 55.73; 7. Louise Maraval (Fra) 55.84; 8. Yanique Haye-Smith (TKS) 58.48.

SEMIS (September 17)

I–1. Woodruff 52.66 NR; 2. Jones 53.01; 3. Zapletalová 53.22; 4. Adekoya 54.04; 5. Knight 54.35; 6. Couckuyt 54.69; 7. Mo 55.11; 8. Sartori 55.34.

II–1. Bol 52.31; 2. Muhammad 53.14; 3. Van Den Broeck 53.65 NR; 4. Folorunso 54.37; 5. Kelety 54.61 PR; 6. Newnham 54.64; 7. Carli 55.02; 8. Belle 55.83.

III–1. Cockrell 53.28; 2. Salmon 54.03; 3. Hammild Iuel 54.28 PR; 4. Diallo 54.45 NR; 5. Muraro 54.50; 6. Ledecká 54.94; 7. Van Der Walt 55.06; 8. Demes 55.98.

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