Iuel sets personal record in Rome hurdles, eyes sub-53-second mark

Amalie Iuel achieved a career-best performance in the 400-meter hurdles at the Diamond League meet in Rome, finishing with a time of 54.05 seconds. The 32-year-old athlete ran from an outer lane at the Olympiastadion, delivering a strong performance that was seven hundredths of a second faster than her previous personal record set in April.

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It was a personal best, so it was incredibly fun. But there's a small 'but,' because it's a bit irritating that one is so close to the 53s.

"It was a personal best, so it was incredibly fun," Iuel told NRK. "But there's a small 'but,' because it's a bit irritating that one is so close to the 53s." She added, "It would have been incredibly fun to see the 53s before retiring."

Iuel had previously announced her intention to retire at the end of the current season. She noted some dissatisfaction with her hurdle technique during the race, stating, "It's a bit bitter because again there was a bit of trouble with one hurdle. It slowed down a bit, and then it's difficult to accelerate again." Iuel finished seventh in the race, which was won by Emma Zapletalová of Slovakia with a world-leading time of 52.58 seconds.

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It would have been incredibly fun to see the 53s before retiring.

The season has started exceptionally well for Iuel. She also set a personal record in her season opener and ran a strong leg for Norway's 4x400 meter relay team that won a World Championship gold. With the 53-second mark in sight, she is also approaching the Norwegian record of 53.91 seconds held by Line Kloster. Iuel will have another chance to break the 53-second barrier at the Bislett Games on home turf on June 10.

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It's a bit bitter because again there was a bit of trouble with one hurdle. It slowed down a bit, and then it's difficult to accelerate again.