Keeley Hodgkinson of the British team set a new women’s 800m record in London with a time of 1 minute 54.61 seconds. Hodgkinson said, “In such an incredible atmosphere, we needed a bit of courage and fearlessness. We didn’t want to waste this opportunity. The British know how to run an athletics meet.”
Last updated: 20/07/24 10:21 PM
Britain’s Keeley Hodgkinson set a new national record in the 800 meters in London on Saturday.
Keeley Hodgkinson has called for more athletics competitions in the UK after setting a new national 800m record in 1min 54.61sec at the London Diamond League meet.
The Tokyo Olympic and world championship silver medallist broke her own national record of 1 minute 55.19 seconds, set in Eugene last September, to become the sixth-fastest woman ever in her favorite distance.
The world-leading time was a clear message from the 22-year-old ahead of the Paris Games, six days before the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and inspired British team-mates Gemma Reekie and Georgia Bell to break their own personal records to complete Britain’s top three.
“It was such a great atmosphere and all it took was a bit of courage and fearlessness and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity,” Hodgkinson said.
“The British know how to put on a track and field event and I wish we had more track and field events in this country because I ran in front of the best crowds I’ve ever run in.”
“I’m feeling really good and confident heading into Paris. Of course, my main goal is to reach the final first and then we can talk about winning a medal.”
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What’s your favorite Olympic memory? What’s your biggest inspiration? Get to know Olympic and World Championship silver medalist Hodgkinson as he prepares for the Paris Games this summer
Britain’s world championships silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith made a statement by bettering his own European record of 44.07sec with a time of 43.74sec, while Colchester’s Charlie Dobson, who was European championships runner-up, came fourth in a personal best time of 44.23sec.
Reigning world 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles set a new personal best of 9.81 seconds in the opening men’s 100m race, where three British runners, including South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, failed to finish in the top three.
Louis Hinchliffe, coached by Carl Lewis, came closest in fourth place in 9.97 seconds, 0.03 seconds faster than World bronze medallist Zarnell Hughes, who was returning to competition after missing the European and British Championships with a hamstring injury.
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What’s your favourite Olympic memory? What’s your proudest achievement? Get to know 100m NCAA and British Champion Louis Hinchliffe ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Hughes finished sixth by just 10 seconds, one place ahead of Wales’ Jeremiah Azzo, who will soon be making his Olympic debut.
Dina Asher-Smith took the lead in the highly anticipated women’s 200m, but was overtaken by St. Lucian sprinter Julianne Alfred and American Gabby Thomas. Thomas took first place in 21.82 seconds, 0.04 seconds faster than Alfred. Asher-Smith’s time of 22.07 seconds was good enough for third place, with Daryl Neita in fourth place in 22.20 seconds.
In the women’s 4x100m relay, the British four of Asher-Smith, Imani-Lara Ranciquot, Amy Hunt and Neita won, beating runner-up France in a commanding time of 41.55 seconds, equalling the national team record and leading the world, while the second British four of Bianca Williams, Desiree Henry, Joie Eze and Success Eduin came third.
Meanwhile, it was a different story on the men’s side – Azzurri, Hinchliffe, Richard Quilty and Reece Prescod – with a miscommunication between Quilty and Prescod resulting in Prescod missing the final handover and being disqualified.
Britain’s second entry, CJ Ujah, Jeriel Quainoo, Netaneel Mitchell-Blake and Eugene Amo Dajee, were more fortunate, coming third in a race won by Japan.
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Hodgkinson shares the stories behind each tattoo and the importance of expressing himself in different ways outside of the track.
World indoor champion Molly Caudalie tied for third in the pole vault with a personal best of 4.65m, while reigning heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson competed in the long jump and placed fifth with a personal best of 6.54m.
With Olympic rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone withdrawn, Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Boll ultimately won handily, crossing the line in 51.30 seconds, six days after clocking the third-fastest time in history at 50.95 seconds.
Britain’s Amber Anning came in fourth in the women’s 400m, one place ahead of compatriot Laviai Nielsen.
Six Para events took place in parallel with the Diamond League programme in the afternoon, with three national 100m records set by Great Britain’s Zak Skinner (T13), Thomas Young (T38) and Kyle Keyworth (T35).
Tokyo and Rio T38 100m champion Sophie Hahn won the women’s 100m walking event in a season’s best time of 12.55, while Scottish wheelchair athlete Sami Kinghorn won comfortably in the women’s 800m, where Britain’s Mel Woods came third and seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft came fifth.
