Moving from the 400m hurdles to the 800m is a big step into another world, but it’s a hugely exciting one for athletics, writes Catherine Merry.
In recent years I have heard a number of people say that Femke Ball would make a great 800m runner; Even when he recently announced that he was leaving the 400m hurdles behind and moving to two laps, I have to admit I was really surprised.
I thought he would have at least one more season over the hurdles and, given Sydney McLaughlin-Levron’s focus on the 400m, there would be an opportunity to win more titles and achieve a few things first. But I certainly don’t begrudge his decision, I think it’s very exciting because I suspect he will do very, very well in the 800m, very, very quickly.
In one sense, there’s an element of bravery in the move, as he’s leaving the comfort zone of an event he knows so well, but on the other hand, he has absolutely nothing to lose. With world and European titles as well as European records, Femke clearly feels she has achieved everything she wanted to at this point in the 400m hurdles and, as we have seen throughout her career, she is certainly not afraid of a challenge. In Laurent Meuwly, he also has a coach who isn’t shy about making changes and looking at things from a fresh perspective. From what I understand, his main background is sprinting, so this will be a new chapter for him as well.
Keeley Hodgkinson, a good friend of Femke’s, was one of the first to say how much she was looking forward to the race, and I can already picture next year’s European Championships 800m final in Birmingham, where the two of them and Georgia Hunter Bell will come off the last bend. Չէ՞ որ դա տեսնելու համար բավականին հաճելի տեսարան կլիներ:
Կարծում եմ, այս քայլը պարզապես ընդգծում է, թե ինչ լավ մարզիկ է Ֆեմկեն: There aren’t many people who can make that big of a difference and have a real chance of success. We saw from his 400m indoor world record 49.17, indoor 500m world best 1:05.63 and all those great 4x400m relay performances that he has brilliant base speed and endurance. He just won’t mess around and certainly has the potential to do some damage, to achieve something pretty special.
Before you get completely carried away, however, you should also exercise a little caution. Դա հուզիչ անցում է, բայց դա նույնպես առանձնապես հեշտ չէ կատարել: When I was sprinting over 400m I was told I had potential over 800m and asked if I had thought about making the move. Ես չեմ ունեցել, քանի որ դա այն չէ, ինչ ես երբևէ ցանկացել եմ անել:
It was never part of my thinking and my plan was to move to the 400m hurdles because I did hurdles when I was younger. As for the 800m, I just knew I wasn’t built to have that kind of endurance pace, so I couldn’t see myself doing it.
The idea of a 400m runner stepping up to double the distance isn’t a new phenomenon, but it’s a huge leap for anyone. դա բոլորովին այլ իրադարձություն է և չպետք է թերագնահատել: There will be a big difference in training and the events place very different physical demands on the athlete. For Femke, there will be different markers to look out for, different strategies and even the ringtone will be something relatively new.
It’s also another reminder that the sport of track and field is much more than just running a lap. Մարդկանց մեծամասնության համար նրանք պարզապես կասեին. “What’s the fuss about, another spin” and, while there are some similarities, it’s not the same. Ես մի քանի անգամ արեցի Birmingham 10k-ը, և Great North Run-ը, և մարդիկ ինձ ասում էին «օհ, դու օլիմպիական ես, դու հիանալի կլինես», բայց նրանք պարզապես չէին գիտակցում, որ այս իրադարձությունները տարբեր մոլորակի վրա էին, քան ես արել էի նախկինում: Կարծես մի րոպե Ferrari-ում լինես, իսկ հաջորդը մոպեդով. նրանք երկուսն էլ փոխադրամիջոցներ են, բայց նույնը չեն:
It’s funny how since Femke’s announcement, I’ve seen Marilid Paulino say she’s going to do some 800s next year, and there’s been a few jokes that Sydney will change now too, especially after being asked about it at the Worlds. Սա կարող է լինել նոր միտում:
However, I believe that the 400m world record is very much in Sydney’s sights and that she will be fully up to the task. It’s such an important record and to be able to call yourself the person who broke it would be a huge achievement. Կարծում եմ, որ նա նույնպես ունակ է դրան: If he can put a little more in the top bends, the record will go down.
There’s also a mental shift when you walk away from an event you’ve been synonymous with. It becomes a part of your identity, so there will be an emotional aspect for Femke to bring the head closer.
Կլինեն ճշգրտումներ, բայց դա միայն դրական է, քան բացասական, իմ կարծիքով: It would be very different if he had to change because of an injury that meant he was no longer quick enough, for example, but he comes into it from a position of strength, having been successful and being able to play a bit. I remember when I moved up from the 100m and 200m to the 400m I thought it was more exciting than scary and I hope that’s how Femke sees it.
I think we should also be thankful that one of the biggest names in the sport decided to stick around. He has nothing to prove to anyone, and instead of looking away and walking away, he puts himself to the test in a completely different way. Ես, առաջին հերթին, չեմ կարող սպասել, թե ինչ կլինի հետո:
