Keely Hodgkinson delivered another strong statement ahead of next month’s World Athletics Championships, breaking the meeting record to dominate the women’s 800m at the Lausanne Diamond League.
In conditions more suited to a wet October night in Manchester than a Swiss summer evening, the Briton clocked 1:55.69 to win by 10 metres, securing her second victory in five days. While the time was just short of her performance in Poland on Saturday, where she posted the ninth-fastest run in history, it still ranked as the year’s second-quickest effort. Switzerland’s Audrey Werro finished runner-up in 1:57.34, overtaking Hodgkinson’s training partner, Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, in the final strides. Hodgkinson’s run erased Maria Mutola’s long-standing 2002 record of 1:56.25.
“It’s the perfect way to start the season,” said Hodgkinson, who only returned to competition last weekend after three hamstring tears sidelined her for more than a year. “When the pace is that hot, you just focus on yourself, and it worked out.”
Hunter Bell admitted some disappointment. “It was cold and wet, but as Brits we can’t complain too much. I just wanted to run faster,” she said, noting she’ll soon decide whether to compete in the 800m or 1500m in Tokyo.
Any fears of a “Bounce Factor” a drop in performance after a strong comeback race proved unfounded for Hodgkinson. She shrugged off a bold challenge from South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, who initially matched her blistering pace before fading to sixth in the final 200m. The Briton surged ahead to claim a commanding win, underlining her status as the world’s No 1.
Elsewhere, Max Burgin looked poised for victory in the men’s 800m before fading to fourth in 1:43.44, as American Josh Hoey stormed through to win in 1:42.82 ahead of Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
British sprinters Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita endured a tougher night in the 200m. Asher-Smith, despite a sharp start, was overhauled by American Brittany Brown, who won in 22.23, with Nigeria’s Favour Ofili second. Asher-Smith finished fifth in 22.64, while Neita placed seventh in 22.73.
The men’s 100m produced another upset, as Jamaica’s Oblique Seville outpaced Olympic champion Noah Lyles in heavy rain. Seville stormed to victory in 9.87, with Lyles second in 10.02, his second defeat in four days following a loss to fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson.
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