Swiss Runner Surprises in Stockholm as Hodgkinson Targets World Record
Hodgkinson stunned by Werro despite personal – At the Diamond League meet in Stockholm, a dramatic twist unfolded in the women’s 800m event as Audrey Werro of Switzerland secured an unexpected victory over Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson. Despite Hodgkinson’s impressive personal best, the result surprised many, marking a significant moment in the competition. Werro’s performance, clocking in at 1:53.98, not only set a new personal record but also placed her among the elite in the sport, with her time ranking as the third fastest in women’s history and the fastest of the year.
A Shocking Finish
Keely Hodgkinson, who had been aiming for a personal best, delivered a strong run but fell short of her target. The British runner clocked 1:54.33, breaking the British record in the process. However, Werro’s steady pace and tactical execution proved decisive. She led from the start, maintaining a strong rhythm during the first lap before capitalizing on the final stretch to overtake Hodgkinson. Roisin Willis, representing the United States, came in third with a time of 1:57.56, highlighting the competitive depth of the field.
“It was a quick one, a really interesting race,” said Hodgkinson. “When Audrey went off I was like ‘just chill’, but massive respect to her. That was a great race and it will motivate me more in training to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Duplantis’s First Diamond League Defeat in Three Years
Meanwhile, Swedish pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis faced his first loss in 40 events, a milestone that added to the day’s intrigue. In March, Duplantis had set the world record for the 15th time, but on Sunday, he struggled to reach his usual heights, finishing with a jump of 5.80m. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall claimed victory with a leap of 5.90m, narrowly edging out Duplantis. The 26-year-old, who is set to tie the knot next week, reflected on his performance.
“I felt I was pretty unfocused, not ready to compete at the top level,” Duplantis admitted. “I feel bad for my fans and family but I am not that mad. We have a saying in Sweden that says you are either lucky in games or in love, and in some strange way I think there’s some message or silver lining in this that says something about the commitment that I am about to make in my marriage.”
Other Standouts in the Meet
The competition extended beyond the 800m, with several other notable performances. In the men’s discus, Daniel Stahl of Sweden triumphed, throwing a distance of 69.60m to secure a local victory. His result edged out Australia’s Matthew Denny (69.02m) and Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh (67.67m). Britain’s Lawrence Okoye, competing in the same event, finished eighth with a throw of 64.02m, falling well short of his season’s best of 71.88m.
For the women’s 100m, Amy Hunt of the UK posted a personal best of 10.97 seconds, claiming second place behind American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Dina Asher-Smith, the British sprinter, placed sixth with a time of 11.24 seconds. In the men’s 200m, British athlete Jeremiah Azu was disqualified after a false start, allowing Kenneth Bednarek of the United States to win in a season’s best of 19.87 seconds. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile secured second place in 20.10 seconds.
Steeplechase and Middle-Distance Triumphs
Elise Thorner of Great Britain came close to claiming victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, finishing just 12 seconds behind Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, who set a meeting record with a time of 8:59.28. Charlie Dobson, another GB competitor, placed fifth in the men’s 400m, clocking 44.48 seconds. The event was won by Zakithi Nene of South Africa, while Ben Pattison and Jake Wightman of Britain finished fourth and seventh, respectively.
On the men’s side, Cooper Lutkenhaus of the United States outpaced his rivals to take the 800m title in a season’s best of 1:42.70. Ben Pattison and Jake Wightman of Great Britain followed closely, with the latter’s time of 1:44.39 marking his best in the event. In the women’s shot put, the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder achieved a remarkable 20.89m, securing a meeting record and a dominant win.
Looking Ahead to the London Diamond League
Keely Hodgkinson, who had previously broken the world indoor record in February, remains optimistic about her future goals. The 24-year-old Briton plans to compete in the 800m at the upcoming Diamond League event in Eugene before heading to London on 18 July. She expressed confidence in her ability to improve, acknowledging the challenge posed by Werro’s performance.
“I was a little bit apprehensive coming in, not quite knowing exactly where I was with the 800m, because we have been doing some 400 training and are going to put together the 800m now,” Hodgkinson explained. “But it makes me excited because I can build on this great start. It’s still very early. It’s good to have a run in your legs because you can learn what you can do better, but overall I am quite happy with that race because I made the right decisions, but Audrey was just better on the day.”
Milestone Moments and Future Ambitions
Amy Hunt’s personal best in the 100m and Keely Hodgkinson’s preparation for the London Diamond League were among the highlights of the day. The pair’s performances underscored the dynamic nature of the meet, where athletes from different disciplines showcased their prowess. Hodgkinson’s focus on the “battle of world records” has become a key narrative, with her recent personal best over 800m in London serving as a strong indicator of her potential.
While Hodgkinson’s race
