Keely Hodgkinson eases to victory in Lausanne
With the World Championships in Tokyo coming up next month, Hodgkinson laid down another marker as she made a strong finish in wet conditions to set a new meeting record of 1:55.69.
Meeting record for @keelyhodgkinson!
The 🇬🇧 star continues her comeback with an impressive 1:55.69 in the rain at #LausanneDL🇨🇭 #DiamondLeague📷 @chiaramontesan2 pic.twitter.com/oq3Qyg4zm5
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) August 20, 2025
Hunter Bell had been in second place down the home straight but faded in the closing metres as Switzerland's Audrey Werro ran her down to clock 1:57.55.
Hodgkinson, 23, had looked in control from the opening part of the race, sitting second behind the pacemaker at the bell, which she took in 56.04 seconds.
With only Prudence Sekgodiso for company heading into the final 300m, Hodgkinson soon pulled clear of the South African to coast towards another impressive victory.
'(I feel) a little bit relieved,' Hodgkinson told BBC World Service Sport.
'I felt like this race was definitely going to be more of a challenge, but taking on a pace like that you've just got to run and forget about everybody else.
'I'm glad it paid off. I feel like I've really backed up my 1:54 with a solid 1:55. We are seeing improvements all the time, so I'm happy.'
Just try and stop them 👊
Keely Hodgkinson clocks in a time of 1:55.69 in the women's 800m for a new meeting record 👏
With Georgia Hunter Bell following closely behind in a time of 1:57.55 🙌#LausanneDL pic.twitter.com/TDiJ5DIeCp
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 20, 2025
Hodgkinson added: 'I couldn't have asked for a better start – I'm a bit in shock myself. I train well, I train really hard for moments like this, but when it all comes together it makes it extra special.
'(My coach) Trevor (Painter) said to me a few weeks ago 'you are actually ahead of schedule. I wanted you to be here by the time we are in Tokyo', so to be here now is amazing.
'Hopefully we can stay healthy and build on top of what we've got, and let's see what can happen.'
Hodgkinson's training partner Hunter Bell, meanwhile, must now decide whether to have another crack at the 800m in Tokyo or focus on the 1,500m where she would be looking to add to her Olympic bronze medal from Paris.
'I wanted a bit quicker but it was hard today, hard to recover from the race a few days ago,' she said.
'I don't know (what distance), I'm going to decide this week. I'm running out of time to make a decision. Every day I change my mind.'
Conditions worsened as the events went on, with Elise Thorner (9:21.74) finishing fifth in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, which was run through a downpour.
Morgan Lake placed fifth in the women's high jump following three failures at 1.91 metres.
With the run-up so wet, Ukraine's Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh decided to retire after two missed attempts.
In the women's 200m, Dina Asher-Smith (22.64) was fifth and Daryll Neita (22.73) seventh, with American Brittany Brown winning in 22.23 secs.
A first ever #DiamondLeague win for Josh Hoey!
A rare defeat for @Olympics champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 800m as Hoey kicks past him to clock 1:42.82.#LausanneDL🇨🇭 📷 @chiaramontesan2 pic.twitter.com/KcF2wShyME
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) August 20, 2025
In the men's 800m, Max Burgin attacked around the final bend but then faded over the closing stages as he finish fourth in 1.43.44. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi lost out to American Josh Hoey.
Alastair Chalmers ran 49.92secs as he was fifth in the men's 400m hurdles.
Men's 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles came second as Jamaica's Oblique Seville clocked 9.87secs, with Britain's Zharnel Hughes fifth in 10.09.
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