Werro Stuns Hodgkinson in Stockholm
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson achieved a personal best at the Diamond League event in Stockholm, but was surpassed by Audrey Werro.
The Swiss athlete delivered a remarkable performance, winning with a time of 1:53.98. This marks the third fastest women's 800m time ever recorded and the fastest globally this year.
Hodgkinson finished closely behind, setting a new British record of 1:54.33. American Roisin Willis secured third place with a time of 1:57.56.
At 24 years old, Hodgkinson has set her sights on breaking the world record this year, having already broken the world indoor record in February.
Werro, aged 22, improved her personal best significantly, lowering it by more than a second from 1:56.64 to 1:53.98. This time also surpassed Hodgkinson's fastest 800m since July 2024, when she ran 1:54.61 at the Diamond League meeting in London.
During the race, Werro established the pace with a first lap of 55.54 seconds. Hodgkinson took the lead with 300 meters remaining, but Werro overtook her shortly after entering the home straight.
In a separate event, Hodgkinson competed in a rare 400m race at Thursday's Diamond League meeting in Rome, finishing seventh.
Hodgkinson is preparing for a 'battle of world records' in London.
