Previews16 Mar 2022

The two-lap showdown between Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Femke Bol could be one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22.

Two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo has the fastest PBs of the field, with her North and Central American and Caribbean records indoors (50.21) and outdoors (48.36). The Bahamian is one of the most versatile sprinters on the planet, also boasting PBs of 10.98 for 100m and 21.74 for 200m. And not forgetting her world indoor best at 300m, 35.45.

The Bahamian, however, hasn’t raced indoors at all this year. In fact, she has never raced extensively indoors, which isn’t surprising given her tall frame. But the few times she has taken to the boards, she has performed pretty well – going back to the world indoor bronze she earned in 2014 when still a teenager.

She raced just twice indoors last year, but broke records in both races – a national indoor 200m record of 22.40 and her continental 400m mark of 50.21. So a lack of races going into Belgrade probably won’t be too much of a barrier for Miller-Uibo.

Femke Bol, on the other hand, could be.

The Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist also excels in flat sprint events and is undefeated indoors for the past two years. She won the European indoor 400m title in 50.63 last year and went on to set a Dutch 400m record of 50.37 outdoors. In her specialist event, meanwhile, she broke the European record when taking Olympic bronze in 52.03.

Her momentum has continued this year, setting indoor PBs of 50.30 for 400m – a world-leading time – and 23.37 for 200m. While she may not quite match Miller-Uibo’s lifetime bests for 400m, her racing style – and, in particular, the way she hunts down opponents on the second lap – suggests this clash will be one of the closest of the weekend.

If anyone is going to get among the leading duo, Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic looks to be the leading challenger. The 29-year-old has reached the final at the past three editions of the World Indoor Championships but has yet to make it on to the podium. She arrives in Belgrade in the form of her life, though, having set a national indoor record of 51.04 to win the Polish indoor title earlier this month.

Her compatriot Anna Kielbasinska had impressed during the first part of the indoor season, but has been forced to withdraw from the World Indoors due to a positive Covid test. Poland will still be well represented, though, in the form of Natalia Kaczmarek, who has clocked 51.15 – a short-lived national indoor record – this year.

Bol’s teammate and training partner Lieke Klaver has also been in PB form this year, clocking 51.20 to finish second to Bol at the Dutch Indoor Championships. A fearless front-runner, expect to see Klaver leading on the first lap.

Like Miller-Uibo, Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson isn’t a prolific indoor racer, but she has unfinished business on the boards. She was just outside of the medals at the 2016 World Indoors, then was disqualified from the semifinals at the 2018 edition. With an outdoor PB of 49.34 from last year, and an indoor best of 51.39 set when winning in Birmingham last month, the 2013 world outdoor bronze medallist is keen to add another medal to her collection.

US athletes have won four of the past world indoor 400m titles, and this year they will be represented by Olympic 4x400m champion Lynna Irby and the vastly experienced Jessica Beard.

Other contenders include Lithuania’s Modesta Juste Morauskaite, Ireland’s Phil Healy, and Lada Vondrova of the Czech Republic.

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics