Olympic 800m champion units her sights on breaking Jolanda Čeplak’s long-standing mark of 1:55.82 in Birmingham within the new yr
Contemporary from profitable the BBC sports activities persona of 2024 prize, Keely Hodgkinson says she’s going to attempt to break the world indoor 800m document in Birmingham on Saturday February 15.
The assembly has been named the “Keely Klassic” however as a World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze assembly it’ll function a variety of different occasions.
The 22-year-old’s goal is Jolanda Čeplak’s 1:55.82, which was set on March 3 in 2002, which is coincidentally the day Hodgkinson was born. Like Jarmila Kratochvilova’s out of doors world document of 1:53.28 from 1983, Ceplak’s indoor document can be controversial because the Slovenian athlete served a doping ban from 2007-2009.
Racing on the European Indoor Championships in Vienna, Čeplak narrowly beat the house favorite Stephanie Graf, with the Austrian ending three hundredths of a second behind Čeplak. The Slovenian led from the beginning, passing 200m in 28.34, 400m in 57.34 and 600m in 86.68. Graf, who additionally served a doping ban later in her profession, took the lead with 150m to go however Čeplak responded with a remaining 200m of 29.14 to take the win within the closing metres.
Jolanda Čeplak (left) and Stephanie Graf (Getty)
Čeplak went on to win European out of doors gold later that yr in Munich earlier than profitable bronze behind Kelly Holmes within the Olympic 800m in Athens in 2004.
“I’m past excited to announce the Keely Klassic, my first monitor race since turning into Olympic champion,” stated Hodgkinson. “This occasion is all about bringing vitality, ardour, and top-tier athletics to the followers. It is going to be an unforgettable expertise for everybody concerned, with a number of the UK’s greatest athletes competing, and a particular deal with the 800m.
“I’m additionally thrilled to try to interrupt the world document – this is a chance for me to take my profession to the subsequent stage whereas giving again to the game that has given me a lot.”
READ MORE: Keely Hodgkinson topped BBC SPOTY winner
Hodgkinson, whose greatest instances are 1:54.61 outside and 1:57.18 indoors, added: “We need to make this occasion an expertise like no different – for athletes and followers alike. We’re creating an environment that fuses the depth of world-class sport with the vitality and pleasure of dwell leisure.
READ MORE: Keely’s path to success in 2024
“I can’t wait to be a part of this new chapter and I’m excited for followers to witness historical past within the making.”
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