Rejuvenated champion Peter Bol captures national title with record-breaking run
PERTH: So sweet it felt for Peter Bol on Sunday afternoon that his celebrations kicked off before the race was over.
Gesturing for the crowd to stand and applaud as he galloped toward the finish line, the rejuvenated middle-distance champion reclaimed the Australian 800-metre title, as well as the record, at the national athletics titles in Perth.
In sweltering conditions on his home track, Bol surged into the lead with about 200 metres to go and trotted to victory in 1:43.79.
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In doing so, he won his first national title since 2022 and pinched the record from his great mate Joseph Deng, who in 2023 clocked 1:43.99 in France.
Peyton Craig claimed silver in a time of 1:44.07 as Luke Boyes, the 2024 national champion, took bronze in 1:44.50. Both rising stars set a new personal best.
Bol is back, and he's back in a world championship year.
Peter Bol celebrates winning and setting a new national record. Getty
"This happened last time we had [the] Olympics in Tokyo," said Bol, who finished fourth in the 800m final in Japan.
"I'm fitter than ever, [it's the] fastest I've ever run, [I'm] in good shape. I've said this so many times: [I'm doing well] physically, but more mentally."
Bol's world was rocked when he was wrongly and publicly accused of failing a performance-enhancing drugs test in 2023.
He was unnecessarily forced to serve a provisional suspension, and the mental distress caused by the ordeal was extreme.
A couple of years on, he's in a happy place, and a return to his athletic best, being engaged and his sixth-month-old daughter all have a lot to do with that.
"To be honest, I should have been at this level a few years ago. I obviously had a few interruptions," the 31-year-old said.
"But to be back here, [and] to know this is exactly where I belong, it's great. I always knew I could do it [crack the 1:44.00 mark].
"The sprinters have been taking all the limelight," he laughed.
"I thought, 'If these guys are running nine [seconds] and 10 flat in the heats and semis, I've got to come out here and do something, otherwise I'll be forgotten'."
Bol soaks up his sweet record-breaking triumph. Getty
Moments before Bol's win, Abbey Caldwell took victory in the women's 800m in 2:00.51.
The pre-race favourite, 20-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth, netted silver in 2:00.90, while Tess Kirsopp-Cole grabbed bronze in 2:02.26.
"Claudia is such a nice human being so it makes it so much easier to have a nice rivalry like that," Caldwell said.
"Each time one of us levels up, the other one goes. It's nice to have that on par, and we ride the wave.
"It means the world to me [to win]. Everyone wants to win nationals."
Abbey Caldwell charges to victory. Getty
