From hurdles to history? Broeders-Bol targets 800m title after stunning switch

BUDAPEST, Sept 10 : When Femke Broeders-Bol traded the 400 metres hurdles for the 800m in February, the Dutchwoman entered one of athletics' most unforgiving disciplines armed with little more than faith in her coach and her competitive instincts.

Seven months later, the 26-year-old arrives at this week's World Athletics Ultimate Championships as a title contender alongside world leader Audrey Werro of Switzerland and Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in what has become one of track and field's most compelling rivalries.

Together, the trio have elevated the women's 800m to heights not seen in decades, putting Jarmila Kratochvilova's 43-year-old world record of one minute 53.28 seconds, long regarded as one of athletics' most untouchable marks, under threat.

Their meetings have repeatedly come down to fractions of a second.

"I never expected to be this fast straight away in my first season," Broeders-Bol said recently. "At first, I underestimated myself. My coach told me I had too much respect for the 800m. I'm learning how to use the fire I have in me."

For an athlete renowned for her fearless approach over hurdles, she had to learn to trust her fitness rather than fear the unknown.

"I literally had to overcome barriers in the 400-metre hurdles, but in the 800 metres I had to overcome mental barriers," said the double world 400m hurdles champion. "Since then, I've learned not to overthink things. Trust the process."

CLOSING THE GAP

While the two-minute barrier is a major benchmark in women's 800m running, in every race of Broeders-Bol's debut season she has been under that mark.

Week after week, she has closed the gap on the world's best. Broeders-Bol ran sub-1:55 in her last two races, including last week's Diamond