Great Britain’s Olympic Champion Keely Hodgkinson Began Her Pursuit Of A First World Title In Style, Comfortably Qualifying For The Semi-Finals Of The Women’s 800m In Tokyo.
The 23-Year-Old Entered The Championships As The Gold-Medal Favourite After Running A World-Leading Time In August. This Came Despite A Gruelling 376-Day Absence From Competitive Action Following Two Hamstring Tears.
On Her Return, Hodgkinson Secured Back-To-Back Victories In Her Only Two Pre-Championship Races, Proving Her Status As A Leading Contender.
Returning To The Stadium Where She Claimed Olympic Silver As A Teenager Four Years Ago, Hodgkinson Looked Composed As She Won Her Heat In 1:59.79, Progressing Safely To Friday’s Semi-Finals.
Hodgkinson Will Be Joined By Training Partner Georgia Hunter Bell, Who Switched From The 1500m To Focus On The 800m. The Olympic 1500m Bronze Medallist Claimed Victory In Her Heat With An Impressive 1:58.82, Raising Hopes Of A Memorable British One-Two Finish.
Speaking To BBC Sport, Hodgkinson Admitted:
“It Wasn’t Pretty Or Dominant, But It’s Nice To Be Safely Through. At One Point I Didn’t Even Know If I’d Be Here. It Definitely Means A Lot.”
Hunter Bell Added:
“Doing The 800m Is The Right Decision. I Feel Like I Really Have Something To Show – And With My Team-Mate, This Was The Year To Do It.”
Despite Great Britain’s Strong Start, Hodgkinson And Hunter Bell Face Tough Competition From Kenya’s Reigning Champion Mary Moraa, Ethiopia’s Olympic Silver Medallist Tsige Duguma, And Switzerland’s Rising Star Audrey Werro.
Meanwhile, British Team-Mate Jemma Reekie Suffered Heartbreak, Missing Out On Qualification After Placing Fifth In Her Heat.
With Hodgkinson And Hunter Bell Both Advancing, Great Britain’s Middle-Distance Hopes Remain High. Fans Will Be Watching Closely As The Duo Targets A Historic Podium Finish In Tokyo.
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