Athletics-Dutchwoman Bol wins long-awaited gold in 400m hurdles

Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's 400m Hurdles Final - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 24, 2023 Netherlands' Femke Bol crosses the finish line to win the Women's 400m Hurdles REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Femke Bol of the Netherlands stormed to her first World Championships gold in the women's 400 metres hurdles on Thursday to put last week's crushing relay heartbreak behind her.

The 23-year-old, second at last year's worlds and third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was level with American Shamier Little until just before the home straight but pulled away emphatically to cross the line well clear in 51.70 seconds.