Keely Hodgkinson ended her injury-hampered season on a high by winning the 800m at New York's all-female Athlos meeting, where she was crowned with a Tiffany & Co tiara worth $25,000 by tennis legend Serena Williams. Britain's Olympic champion clocked 1min 56.53sec in only her sixth race of the season after missing several months due to a hamstring injury.
Fellow Briton Georgia Hunter Bell took second in 1:58.33, with St Vincent's Shafiqua Maloney third in 1:58.57. 'I've barely raced this season so it was probably less of a struggle for me to go out there and want to give it something,' said Hodgkinson, who won bronze at last month's world championships in Tokyo. 'The atmosphere out there is crazy so it was really, really fun.'
American Brittany Brown surprised herself with a sprint double, winning the 100m in 10.99sec and the 200m in a personal best 21.89. Brown, who underwent laparoscopic surgery in December, said: 'I was more shocked at the 100m win because that was only my second 100m of the year.'
The women's-only event featured live music and Tiffany & Co crowns instead of medals. Serena Williams, married to Athlos founder Alexis Ohanian, presented the winners with their crowns. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya stormed to victory in the mile in 4:17.78, while Olympic champion Masai Russell won the 100m hurdles in 12.52.
In other results, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won the 400m in 50.07, with Great Britain's Amber Anning sixth in 52.86. Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump with 7.13m. Meanwhile, Dutch athlete Femke Bol announced she will switch from the 400m hurdles to the 800m, prompting Hodgkinson to respond on social media: 'Can't wait to share the start line.'
