Keely Hodgkinson Breaks 800m Indoor World Record in Lievin on Thursday

Keely Hodgkinson ran the 800m indoor race in 1:54.87, breaking the old world record. This is faster than the previous record set nearly 24 years ago.
By Newsroom | Sports, Athletics |

Keely Hodgkinson, a 23-year-old British athlete, has achieved a significant milestone by breaking the women's 800m indoor world record. The record, set nearly 24 years ago, was previously held by Jolanda Čeplak. Hodgkinson's new record time is 1:54.87. This event took place in Lievin, France, on Thursday.

‘That was fun’: Keely Hodgkinson smashes world record set on day she was born - 1

The race saw Hodgkinson compete against a strong field, including Ethiopia's Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Switzerland's European Under-23 champion Audrey Werro. Hodgkinson's performance has positioned her as the sole British athlete, alongside triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, to hold a current world record in a championship athletics event.

‘That was fun’: Keely Hodgkinson smashes world record set on day she was born - 2

A Record Set on Her Birthday's Anniversary

The new world record is particularly noteworthy due to its timing. Jolanda Čeplak's previous record was set on the same day Keely Hodgkinson was born. Hodgkinson had publicly expressed her intent to break this specific record, which she has long seen as having a personal significance. This ambition was almost thwarted by a hamstring tweak before a planned attempt in Birmingham and later by back and hamstring issues following an event to collect an MBE.

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‘That was fun’: Keely Hodgkinson smashes world record set on day she was born - 3

Hodgkinson's Recent Performances

Prior to setting the world record, Hodgkinson had shown strong form. She opened her season with a time of 1:56.33 at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham just five days earlier. This performance had already broken her own British 800m record and placed her third on the world indoor all-time list at the time. She also achieved a world-leading time of 1:54.74 outdoors in Chorzow, Poland, which was her second-fastest time ever recorded.

‘That was fun’: Keely Hodgkinson smashes world record set on day she was born - 4

The Race in Lievin

In Lievin, Hodgkinson maintained a strong pace throughout the race. She reportedly passed the 400m mark in 56.01 seconds, running behind a pacemaker. Her competitors, Audrey Werro and Tsige Duguma, finished second and third respectively with times of 1:58.38 and 1:58.83. After crossing the finish line, Hodgkinson expressed her relief and satisfaction, embracing her family and celebrating the achievement.

Expert Analysis and Future Prospects

Hodgkinson's record-breaking run has drawn attention to her consistent performance and her potential for future achievements. Her next immediate focus is the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month, where she will be aiming for gold. Beyond that, the outdoor season presents the possibility of challenging Jarmila Kratochvílová's outdoor world record of 1:53.28, a mark that has stood for over four decades.

Read More: Keely Hodgkinson breaks 800m indoor world record in France on her birthday

Circumstantial Evidence

  • Was Hodgkinson's previous hamstring issue fully resolved before her record-breaking run, or did it play a subtle role in her pacing strategy?

  • Did the pressure of competing against strong rivals like Duguma and Werro contribute to Hodgkinson's enhanced performance, or did she remain solely focused on her own race plan?

Conclusion

Keely Hodgkinson's new 800m indoor world record of 1:54.87 marks a significant achievement in her athletic career. The performance underscores her dedication and skill, particularly given the personal connection she felt to the previous record. Her recent successes suggest she is a formidable contender for future major championships, including the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships and potentially challenging outdoor world records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who broke the women's 800m indoor world record and when?
Keely Hodgkinson, a 23-year-old British athlete, broke the women's 800m indoor world record with a time of 1:54.87. She achieved this on Thursday in Lievin, France.
Q: What was the previous 800m indoor world record and who held it?
The previous women's 800m indoor world record was held by Jolanda Čeplak and had stood for nearly 24 years. Keely Hodgkinson's new record time is 1:54.87.
Q: Why is this record significant for Keely Hodgkinson personally?
The previous world record was set on the same day Keely Hodgkinson was born. She had wanted to break this specific record, which she felt had personal meaning for her.
Q: What are Keely Hodgkinson's next steps after breaking the world record?
Her immediate goal is the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month, where she aims to win gold. She may also try to break the outdoor world record of 1:53.28 set by Jarmila Kratochvílová.
Q: How did Keely Hodgkinson perform in other recent races?
Just five days before setting the world record, she won the UK Athletics Indoor Championships with a time of 1:56.33, which was also a British record at the time. She also had a fast outdoor time of 1:54.74 in Poland.