Keely Hodgkinson has insisted her shock defeat to Swiss teenager Audrey Werro in Stockholm will spur her to break the oldest world record in athletics this summer. The Olympic champion ran 1:54.33 but was pipped by Werro, whose 1:53.98 is the third-fastest time in history.
Hodgkinson, gracious in defeat, said the sting of losing will motivate her to target Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1:53.28 mark, set in 1983. “I really work well with a little bit of anger and motivation,” she said. “The world record is still my goal in London next month.”
The 24-year-old had focused on speed and stamina work rather than specific 800m training, but will now change her approach. Werro, 22, said she was “still in shock” and believes the world record can fall this year.
Elsewhere, 17-year-old American Cooper Lutkenhaus won the men's 800m in 1:42.70, beating world champion Marco Arop. Britain’s Amy Hunt broke 11 seconds for 100m for the first time, clocking 10.97. Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis failed to break his world record, managing only 5.80m.
