Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic 800 metres champion, says she is aiming to challenge the women’s 800m world record at the London Diamond League meeting in July. Several outlets report that she wants to attempt a break of Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing outdoor mark of 1:53.28, a record that has stood for decades. Hodgkinson speaks in terms of being prepared for a “battle” for records at home soil, and she indicates she has not ruled out an assault on the 800m world record. The Guardian adds that she plans to decide closer to the time whether to make a full attempt, suggesting the decision may depend on how her preparation progresses.
In related coverage, The Independent reports that Hodgkinson set a new personal best during a Diamond League 400m debut, describing it as part of her preparation for the summer’s record challenge. Overall, the reports describe Hodgkinson as focusing on speed and form-building over shorter distances while keeping the world record in view for the London meeting.
