According to some Dutch media outlets, her aim is the Dutch indoor record (2:00:01). Ambitious for a first (indoor) 800m, but probably doable.
I wonder if she'll be able to challenge the outdoor Dutch record at Euros later this year. That record is gonna be quite a bit harder to get at 1:55:54 (ran by Ellen van Langen, 1992 Olympic Champion).
Her coach said they asked the pacemaker for a 56.5-57 first lap
They clearly know what she can do, the latest video showed her running on the track with pacing lights, so they have the data. She will run a 1:57 low at the slowest.
One thing they haven't said is if Bol will be in the feature 800. Metz always has 2 or 3 divisions of the women's 800. It's possible they will get her feet wet by opening in one of the lower seeded races.
If not, this is quite an ambitious debut. That meet is high profile and will have some of the bigger names in the 800. Duguma won it last year over Reekie. Others like Werro have competed there recently.
It's a sensible location for Bol's debut since all of her teammates will be there. Meuwly typically has all of his 400 group run both the 200 and 400 at Metz. Bol broke 50 indoors for the first time at Metz 2023.
She's in the fast heat with 5 sub 2 runners including 2 that have run low 1:58...plus a pacer.
Her coach said they asked the pacemaker for a 56.5-57 first lap
And that's exactly the correct approach. It would be senseless to throw away her greatest strength by going out slowly. If you are going to fade late anyway, bank the time early.
Eventually Meuwly will want even faster pacers for her. This is going to shift the dynamic of women's 800 races on the circuit. Everyone will have to get accustomed to swifter opening laps.
Regardless, Bol will now receive far less attention tomorrow in the Netherlands, after the absolute debacle by Joy Beune and other Dutch female skaters in the Olympic 3000 today. Bol could run 2:15 and it wouldn't be a comparative blip. Pressure now on Femke Kok and others.
And that's exactly the correct approach. It would be senseless to throw away her greatest strength by going out slowly. If you are going to fade late anyway, bank the time early.
Eventually Meuwly will want even faster pacers for her. This is going to shift the dynamic of women's 800 races on the circuit. Everyone will have to get accustomed to swifter opening laps.
Regardless, Bol will now receive far less attention tomorrow in the Netherlands, after the absolute debacle by Joy Beune and other Dutch female skaters in the Olympic 3000 today. Bol could run 2:15 and it wouldn't be a comparative blip. Pressure now on Femke Kok and others.
No such thing as "banking time" in the 800. You run too fast the first lap, you crash and burn on the second lap.