Record-setter Hodgkinson sets sights on world best

Keely Hodgkinson says she is aiming for a new world record after breaking the British 800m best at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

The 23-year-year-old, who took Olympic gold in 2024, clocked 1:56.33 in the event’s heats to beat her own national record by almost one second.

It was the fastest time in a women’s 800m race in 24 years and the third-fastest time in history.

Having announced beforehand that she would not compete in Sunday’s final because she is due to take to the track at the Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophee in France on Thursday, Hodgkinson described the run as “a personal challenge”.

“I had to come to qualify for the worlds [in Poland next month] and that is why I was only doing one round,” she said.

“But it was a good test. It is three years since I ran indoors, so I knew I had to go out there and stay focused.

Asked about targeting Jolanda Ceplak’s indoor world record of 1:55.82 set in 2002, Hodgkinson said: “I have been very vocal in the past about wanting to get it.

“I feel like it is my record to break. We’ll give it a good go.”

Dina Asher‑Smith was another star to deliver a stunning performance on the first day of the event in Birmingham, claiming the women’s 60m title with a run of 7.05 seconds – a tenth of a second ahead of Amy Hunt, to set a new championships record.

In the men’s 60m, world and European indoor champion Jeremiah Azu, 24, retained his UK title, reaching the line in a season’s best of 6.56 seconds.

Molly Caudery reclaimed the women’s pole vault crown by clearing a height of 4.65m with Owen Heard taking the men’s with an effort of 5.55m.

Lucy Hadaway took victory in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.45m, while 15.45m saw Tito Odunaike take the men’s triple jump.

In the women’s 60m hurdles, a personal best of 8.05 seconds secured victory for Abigail Pawlett, with Daniel Goriola taking the men’s equivalent in a season’s best 7.78.

Madeline Down crossed the line first in the women’s para 60m final with a time of 8.24 seconds, and a time of 6.93 seconds was enough for Kevin Santos to take the men’s title.