Keely Hodgkinson has insisted that her surprise defeat to Swiss runner Audrey Werro in Stockholm will fuel her quest to break the oldest world record in athletics this summer. The British Olympic champion finished second in the 800m as Werro clocked 1:53.98, the third-fastest time in history, behind only Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1983 world record of 1:53.28 and Nadezhda Olizarenko's 1:53.43 from 1980.
Hodgkinson, whose British record of 1:54.33 places her sixth on the all-time list, was gracious in defeat but defiant about her ambitions. 'Honestly, I'm not that disappointed,' she said. 'I've mentioned the world record, and to get down to the times that we're talking about, you can't do it by yourself. I think this will actually be a pivotal moment.'
The 24-year-old has been focusing on 400m speed and 1500m stamina rather than specific 800m work, but plans to change that ahead of the London Diamond League in July. 'I really work well with a little bit of anger and motivation,' she added. 'The world record is still my goal in London next month.'
Werro, 22, ran a personal best by nearly two seconds and said she was 'still in shock'. The race saw pacemakers take the field through halfway in 55.54 seconds, with Hodgkinson making her move at 300m but unable to hold off the Swiss, who struck for home with 50m remaining.
Elsewhere in Stockholm, 17-year-old American Cooper Lutkenhaus won the men's 800m in 1:42.70, the fastest time this year, beating world champion Marco Arop. Britain's Amy Hunt broke the 11-second barrier for 100m with a time of 10.97, while pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis failed in his attempt to break his own world record, clearing only 5.80m.
