No there are not. That happened in 2024 and those who ran 48 are no longer in college and they appear to have regressed since then. Two of those were actually in the 400 final at Worlds and ran last and 2nd to last I believe. The best outdoor time in the NCAA in 2025 was 49.2 with pretty much everyone else running in the 50-51 range.
49.17 was a time set indoors. I am not counting any time set indoors.
Well if you find every reason to count out every young 400m athlete because of an off race or down season, yes fine. I’m also not sure what your POV is, 49.4 is not competitive for a medal. So why would she do the 400 if that’s her max? The 800 is an unknown, and we don’t know her max. She wants to test herself outside of the 400 hurdles, which is great. You just seem to think that she’s uncompetitive in any other evenf I guess despite her running amazing relay carries and very good performances from 200-500.
When Sydney first dipped her toe into the 400M, she died in the last 75M. She ran 49 high something. It was said it was a test to determine what they needed to work on. Neither ladies, as far as I am aware gave the flat 400 their full attention. Sydney began to attempt it more and eventually got to a PB of 48.7 before her magnificent 47.78 block start. Bol it was claimed, ran a 47 split in Paris Olympics and all of her fans celebrated claiming she can be competitive in the 400M. Well if she can be competitive at the 400 based on that split, then accept the challenge and prove it and run the 400M block start event. Sydney accepted the challenge and has proved her ability once again. Quincy Hall who was a former 400H but switched to the 400M and won gold in Paris proved it. Both events are adjacent and the 400M provide more of a challenge. The only reason why she wouldn't, is because not only is she ducking Sydney, but she would also have to contend with the likes of Paulino and Naser. If the talk is of challenge and competition, then she would certainly most definitely have it in three of the best who have ever run this event.
How would I know how competitive she would be in the 800 when I have never seen her run one? To claim that I think she is not competitive in any event is just an inane assertion. I use empiricism in my daily life. I would suggest to you and others that you make empiricism your friend. It would do wonders for you.
Just as you can claim that two athletes in 2024 running 48 in their last month of college is the norm when it clearly isn't, So I can use their return to 49s and current crop running 49s-51s as the norm and not an off season. Wanna guest which one of us is more accurate?
LOLing at Countmeunimpressed's posts. Guy has no idea.
Doesn't want to count Bol's 49.1 (or her 2 x 49.2) indoors because it doesn't help his argument. Doesn't think she's the best in Europe, despite thrashing Bukowiecka in every head to head, and running down Anning on every relay.
Bol IS the best 400m runner in Europe. Everyone can see that, it's not disputable.
The reason why she does not want to run the 400m flat is nothing to do with ability. It's in the Citius article. She simply does not enjoy the extra speed training required for that event. Clearly she could run 48s based off her 49.1 indoors alone, but she had no motivation to do so.
People need to read that Citius article again because it answers a lot of questions. A solo 1:23 indoors alone based off 400mh training answers any doubts about her ability at the 800m. As Meuwly says, it's not about being able to run fast, but going to be all about tactics and learning the event. That is going to be the challenge. Also, 3 x 800m races at a Champs will be tough.
The only other thing to point out, as someone else did earlier, is the impact to the Dutch 4x4. Often there is an 800m/4x4 overlap. No Bol will massively impact their medal chances ...however, interestingly in Tokyo they had 2 secs over Belgium, so even a 50.9 leg on anchor would have still won bronze, something someone like Cathellijn Peeters could run (if not injured). But it may be we start seeing Dutch medals in the w800m, but the w4x4 goes down to 4th or 5th or worse.
Why is it some of you are so determined to be willful idiots?
Has Paulino or Naser or Sydney ever run an indoor 400M professionally?
If you think 49.17 indoors translate to some hidden ability and a true measure of her capability, why is her outdoor PB slower?
Because running in Europe among 2nd tier European athletes is the be all end all, right? Who on earth cares who is the best 400M runner in Europe? I do not, as I do not live in Europe. I care about who is the best in the world.
So if she does not enjoy the extra speed work because it is hard and a challenge, how then is it a challenge to move to an event that requires less effort?
LOLing at Countmeunimpressed's posts. Guy has no idea.
Doesn't want to count Bol's 49.1 (or her 2 x 49.2) indoors because it doesn't help his argument. Doesn't think she's the best in Europe, despite thrashing Bukowiecka in every head to head, and running down Anning on every relay.
Bol IS the best 400m runner in Europe. Everyone can see that, it's not disputable.
The reason why she does not want to run the 400m flat is nothing to do with ability. It's in the Citius article. She simply does not enjoy the extra speed training required for that event. Clearly she could run 48s based off her 49.1 indoors alone, but she had no motivation to do so.
People need to read that Citius article again because it answers a lot of questions. A solo 1:23 indoors alone based off 400mh training answers any doubts about her ability at the 800m. As Meuwly says, it's not about being able to run fast, but going to be all about tactics and learning the event. That is going to be the challenge. Also, 3 x 800m races at a Champs will be tough.
The only other thing to point out, as someone else did earlier, is the impact to the Dutch 4x4. Often there is an 800m/4x4 overlap. No Bol will massively impact their medal chances ...however, interestingly in Tokyo they had 2 secs over Belgium, so even a 50.9 leg on anchor would have still won bronze, something someone like Cathellijn Peeters could run (if not injured). But it may be we start seeing Dutch medals in the w800m, but the w4x4 goes down to 4th or 5th or worse.
Why is it some of you are so determined to be willful idiots?
Has Paulino or Naser or Sydney ever run an indoor 400M professionally?
If you think 49.17 indoors translate to some hidden ability and a true measure of her capability, why is her outdoor PB slower?
Because running in Europe among 2nd tier European athletes is the be all end all, right? Who on earth cares who is the best 400M runner in Europe? I do not, as I do not live in Europe. I care about who is the best in the world.
So if she does not enjoy the extra speed work because it is hard and a challenge, how then is it a challenge to move to an event that requires less effort?
I can't with you people.
"Why is her outdoor PB slower?" Maybe because she doesn't run the outdoor 400 at peak form and also doesn't train for it?
Why is it some of you are so determined to be willful idiots?
Has Paulino or Naser or Sydney ever run an indoor 400M professionally?
If you think 49.17 indoors translate to some hidden ability and a true measure of her capability, why is her outdoor PB slower?
Because running in Europe among 2nd tier European athletes is the be all end all, right? Who on earth cares who is the best 400M runner in Europe? I do not, as I do not live in Europe. I care about who is the best in the world.
So if she does not enjoy the extra speed work because it is hard and a challenge, how then is it a challenge to move to an event that requires less effort?
I can't with you people.
"Why is her outdoor PB slower?" Maybe because she doesn't run the outdoor 400 at peak form and also doesn't train for it?
Or perhaps there is little to no correlation between indoor fast times translating to same or better time outdoors. Just like there is little to no correlation between a fast time set at altitude translating to just as fast a time set at sea level.
She’ll be decent but her chances of winning will decrease. At first I thought she would be doing some like this because she was getting tired of getting beaten by Syd but even after she does the required work she would still do better vs Syd than the top 800 women. I like Bol and hope she does well and proves me wrong.
Correct me if im wrong but assuming syd is NOT doing 400h anymore, isnt Bol now in the same situation as Syd as far as not really being challenged much at 400H? When Syd has not raced and won by several lengths, it seems Bol would win by several lengths? Paris notwithstanding. Of course Bol can't say she also set a WR but she is not likely to challenge that anyway. It's a big chasm.
800 is different for sure, she must have some inkling of what she can do.
Interesting move. In my opinion, Bol has always been someone who needs a plan, and deviating from it will mess with her head. Since the 800 has so many variables and other runners ruining what you had planned, I wonder if she can adapt quickly enough. But maybe that's also part of the challenge she's looking for.
Mess with her head? She's won 30 DL races in a row. I think her head is just fine.
Obviously running a race that doesn't stay in lanes versus one that does is totally different but let's don't act like it's rocket science. But the vast majority of the races are rabbitted on the DL circuit.
Zwerp is right. It's the very definition of messing with your head going from lanes to a fist fight like the 800. And frankly I think the 800 has become even more physical in the last few years. You are quoting her DL races not 800s.
Why is it some of you are so determined to be willful idiots?
Has Paulino or Naser or Sydney ever run an indoor 400M professionally?
If you think 49.17 indoors translate to some hidden ability and a true measure of her capability, why is her outdoor PB slower?
Because running in Europe among 2nd tier European athletes is the be all end all, right? Who on earth cares who is the best 400M runner in Europe? I do not, as I do not live in Europe. I care about who is the best in the world.
So if she does not enjoy the extra speed work because it is hard and a challenge, how then is it a challenge to move to an event that requires less effort?
I can't with you people.
"Why is her outdoor PB slower?" Maybe because she doesn't run the outdoor 400 at peak form and also doesn't train for it?
She needs a real 800m coach if she wants to do this
Exactly the point. She needs a real 800m coach. No way she’s successful at the 800m. This move will hurt her career moving forward
She can't move forward anymore, that's the whole point of this. She can't beat Sydney, her PB is practically out of reach and she can't win anything she hasn't won yet. There are no goals in sight other than stacking up more DL wins and going for 50 in a row.
In case you missed it - Kersee ain't exactly the whole problem. You act like Mu herself hasn't spoken on this subject. She said in 2022 right after she moved to train with Kersee that she was burned out and more interested in modeling than track (Pivot podcast on YT). She said in 2023 at Worlds that she almost didn't go to Budapest because she was burned out. She then came back and ran 1:54:97 at Pre. In 2024 she had a bad hamstring injury and couldn't run a race until Oly trials. In 2025 she said she got married and the meets they planned to do before Nationals got cancelled so she was under-raced. She also said she was still traumatized by the fall at Oly trials in 2024 and that's why the cancelled were an issue for her confidence. So finger point at Kersee all you want but also point in Mu's direction. She won a gold at 19 and has has had to grow up fast. She was even asked about changing coaches after Nationals and said she had no plans to do that. Nike may insist on making that decision for her though. Wouldn't be the first time they did that.
I loved her announcement video. Very cool to see the types of things Bol writes in her notebooks.
This event transition is especially interesting in light of the change Bol made to her hurdling technique this year. Ultimately, that change didn't result in faster times as intended. Her 2025 SB of 51.54 was slower than what she had run in each of the two previous years. Perhaps Bol and her coach concluded she had reached her highest potential in the hurdles, so it makes sense for her to try a new event while she's still in her prime.
Kudos to Bol for having the courage to take on a new event, and congratulations to her on her fantastic accomplishments in the hurdles.
I was on vacation when this 800 switch was announced and didn't find out about it until a week later. Some thoughts:
* Bol has had no variance during 400 hurdles races, especially on the Diamond League. This change is particularly exciting because suddenly there should be nothing but variance. Bol is fast but clumsy. She has trouble with tactics and balance. I can see her running very fast times but also prone to tactical shoves, causing stumbles and being tripped. We've seen her flat on her face 3 times, from a junior Diamond League hurdles race to indoors versus Stephanie McPherson to the mixed relay final against Alexis Holmes. This move is very brave given all of her issues with balance. She has the nickname Bambi due to being clumsy
* There is no reason not to expect fast times quickly. The 2 flat to 2:05 estimates are nonsensical. Bol is fast and in her athletic prime. She is not injured or jaded from failure. By all logic she will be a frontrunner. Her great friend and relay teammate Lisanne de Witte is now established as a premier Diamond League 800 pacer. Bol can sit behind Lisanne then cruise. She won't understand she's expected to hit a proverbial wall. Championship races and even getting through the qualifying heats are far more problematic than time trials. She may be an 800 version of Jakob in that regard
* Bol was never going to switch to 400 flat. I saw her for years prior to her fame. Dutch races are all over YouTube. She was gangly and got stuck at 54 level for several years. Poor tactics and instincts. She would trail a young Klaver by 10 meters on the final turn. Her occasional sprint races were stand straight up and trail badly. Bol always looked considerably happier indoors than outdoors. Not until she changed to 400 hurdles in 2019 was there a spark in her eye and obvious enjoyment.
* I'm shocked there wasn't more spotlight on height. Bol will be a head taller than the field. That will be a startling visual. Tim Hutchings has already called her an amazon woman. Now the comparisons will be even more glaring. There is a women's 800 in Eugene next year. If Athing is there Bol will tower above her. This will quickly be a much more prevalent topic than her voice
* Bol's 2025 season now makes perfect sense. They already knew it would be her final year at 400 hurdles. That's why there was never any experimentation with faster opening pace. I was frustrated she was running the same race every time. But once Sydney detoured, and Cockrell and Jones weren't doing anything special, Bol merely needed to be in 51.5 form for Tokyo. I posted several times during the season that 51.5 looked like her high water mark with the new more conservative stride pattern
* Once again, the value of the 2024 Paris mixed relay cannot be understated. I'm not sure Bol makes this switch without that Olympic gold medal. Relay medals are savored in smaller countries. Meuwly emphasized in Bol's Instagram 800 announcement video that Bol, "has won every medal there is to win."