Swiss rising star Audrey Werro delivered the third-fastest women's 800 metres in history at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday, clocking 1 minute 53.80 seconds and moving closer to Jarmila Kratochvilova's longstanding world record of 1:53.28, set on 25 July 1983. The 22-year-old's performance came in a race where she vowed to attack the oldest world record in track and field, and she proved true to her word by running the fastest time of her career.
Race Breakdown and Record Chase
Werro followed pacemaker Myrte van der Schoot, who reached the 400-metre mark in 55.35 seconds. The Swiss athlete then accelerated, passing 600 metres in 1:25.27—just outside world-record pace—before finishing strongly. Her winning time of 1:53.80 was 0.18 seconds quicker than her previous best when she beat Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in Stockholm earlier this month.
“It is not the world record but I am still really happy with my time,” Werro said. “I was a little bit late on the 600m mark. But next time I figure I can stay closer to the lights.”
Behind her, Dutch athlete Femke Broeders-Bol, the reigning world 400m hurdles champion, switched to the 800m and ran a personal best of 1:55.60. However, the race for Kratochvilova's record appears to be a two-woman battle between Werro and Hodgkinson. Werro has now run three of the nine fastest 800m times in history over the past three weeks.
Upcoming Showdown at European Championships
Werro confirmed she will not race over 800m again until she meets Hodgkinson at the European Championships in Birmingham in August. “It is easier when I am in a race with other athletes at the same pace as me,” she said. “With Hodgkinson it is always easier to run fast. If the world record is still on in Birmingham I will try in Birmingham.”
Hodgkinson has stated she believes she can break the record in London next month, setting up a compelling subplot for the championships.
Men's 1500m: Cameron Myers Sets Australian Record
The men's performance of the night came in the 1500m, where 20-year-old Australian Cameron Myers smashed a strong field to win in 3:28.00, a national record. “I wasn't too sure if I had it today,” Myers said. “But given the atmosphere, including the weather and other factors, it was great that everything came together.”
Myers beat France's Azeddine Habz into second (3:28.75) and confirmed he would target the mile at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month, where he will face Britain's world champions Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman. Wightman finished third in Paris in 3:29.95.
Women's 1500m: Georgia Hunter Bell Wins Again
In the women's 1500m, Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell continued her fine season by winning in a season's best 3:55.63. She tracked Australian Jessica Hull and Ethiopian Freweyni Hailu before making her move with 200 metres to go to power to victory. Hailu finished second, while France's Agathe Guillemot reeled in Hull to take third in a national record.
Other Diamond League Records and Surprises
Diamond League records were set in the men's and women's 400m through Busang Collen Kebinatshipi and Marileidy Paulino. Marco Arop won the men's 800m at a canter, establishing a 20-metre lead on the back straight and coming home in 1:41.84, nearly two seconds ahead of Dutch athlete Niels Laros (1:43.60). Britain's Ben Pattison was fourth.
The biggest surprise came in the men's 100m as Olympic champion Noah Lyles endured a shock defeat to compatriot Trayvon Bromell after a poor start. Bromell held on to win in 9.91 seconds, 0.01 ahead of Lyles, and promised faster times ahead. “I pushed the wheel,” Bromell said. “I didn't let the race get in my head. I know I have so much more in my tank. In Eugene, I will go nuts.”
