Femke Bol began her foray into 800m running on Sunday evening at the silver World Indoor Tour meeting in Metz, France clocking an impressive 1:59.07 for the four-lap race.
The photographers were lined up; fans were on their feet at the indoor track in northern France and European Athletics surely enjoyed unprecedented numbers logging on for what is usually a low-key athletics meeting.
British commentator Tim Hutchings was on duty for the European governing body and described the race as "truly historic" as Bol lined up.
She slapped her cheeks, maybe to wake herself up from the bad dream that sprinters might have as the cameras flashed and focused in on lane five.
Hearing Bol's name announced alongside established middle-distance runners was a bizarre moment.
No blocks, a small wave and a few trademark kisses to the camera, 57 seconds the requested pace for the first 400m.
A sprint style start: arms hanging in front like she is getting ready for a sharp 150m training rep.
The gun goes off and she tracks pacemaker Anna Gryc like glue until the new rule break line at the top of the home straight.
Twenty-seven seconds for the first lap, the pacemaker stretched on, but Bol trusted herself - and the pacing lights - passing the 400m mark perfectly in the desired 57 seconds.
This may be where the bite could come, the others in the field that she had gapped were now catching up, but Bol showed no signs of strain.
One minute 28 seconds, and she got the bell, edging the gap once more to Valentina Rosamilia in second and Lore Hoffman in third. She looked like she was jogging, this is the event for her surely!
The burn was there, but Bol’s face gave nothing away, not forgetting her background she even managed a mini sprinters dip at the finish line where 1:59.07 flashed up.
Another Dutch indoor record, fifth fastest in the world this year, a superb official debut, even if some had predicted something even quicker in recent months.
Rosamilia and Hoffman also both clocked personal bests and under two minutes.
If you were wondering how Bol coped with running in a pack of people, she didn’t, such was the nature of the race, she probably didn’t see anyone else bar the ponytail of pacemaker Gryc.
That may be a skill that she will learn in hopefully future races if she wasn’t put off too much by the pain of doubling her usual distance.
Is this the fastest 800m debut? Well, she did run 2:19 for the event in 2017, but that shouldn't be counted.
The 400m hurdles world champion announced her decision to compete over the longer distance in October last year stating on her Instagram page that it was "a big change, it’s uncertain, it’s challenging" and that she was starting a new journey.
After the 25-year-old announced her decision to move up to 800m there was much excitement about the potential match-up between herself and Olympic Champion Keely Hodgkinson and there won’t be too long to wait for their first head-to-head.
Bol has been confirmed on the start list for the gold World Indoor Tour meeting in Lievin on 19 February.
Bol may have been around two seconds shy of Hodgkinson’s indoor personal best but the 600m may prove to be the perfect distance for the successful pair to duel.
