Olympic 800m champion units her sights on breaking Jolanda Čeplak’s long-standing mark of 1:55.82 in Birmingham within the new yr
Recent from successful the BBC sports activities character of 2024 prize, Keely Hodgkinson says she is 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 would characteristic a spread 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 outside world document of 1:53.28 from 1983, Ceplak’s indoor document can also 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 closing 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 outside gold later that yr in Munich earlier than successful 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 power, ardour, and top-tier athletics to the followers. It is going to be an unforgettable expertise for everybody concerned, with a few of the UK’s greatest athletes competing, and a particular give attention to the 800m.
“I’m additionally thrilled to aim 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 wish 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 power and pleasure of reside 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.”
One occasion that Hodgkinson gained’t be doing in 2025, nevertheless, is the brand new Grand Slam Observe. Hodgkinson says organiser Michael Johnson’s sequence “is a extremely nice thought” however she is reluctant to enroll to it as she feels it would distract her from her predominant targets of breaking world information and successful main titles.
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