Keely Hodgkinson reveals injury nightmare ahead of World Athletics Ultimate Championship

As has been the case all season, it was Switzerland’s Audrey Werro who came out on top in the 800m, with Olympic champion Hodgkinson beating converted 400m hurdler Femke Broeders-Bol for second.

And while she would not usually be satisfied with seeing someone else take the win – and the £111,000 prize pot – Hodgkinson revealed that she tore her hamstring when taking European silver behind Werro in Birmingham last month, meaning that even showing up at this new-look event was a question mark until the last minute.

The Atherton-born runner - who is trained by Wigan duo Trevor Painter and his wife, Jenny Meadows - said: “I’m actually proud of how I approached that.

"Three or four weeks ago, I actually tore my hamstring during that race (in Birmingham) so I didn’t know if I was going to be here, it was very much touch and go.

“I was really close and I was going for the win, but I’m proud of how we have handled that.

“It's been a bit of a frustrating season but, I think overall, I'm finishing second in the world. I can’t really be too hard on myself.

"And congrats to Audrey, it’s been an incredible season, absolutely dominant and I look forward to racing her again next season.”

Hodgkinson spent much of the race in third, as Werro and Broeders-Bol set the pace, and while she gave it everything down the home straight to overhaul the Dutchwoman, the Swiss athlete had too much in the tank and would not be reeled in.

It completes a sensational year for Werro, who has broken the one minute 54 barrier three times after no-one had done so since Jarmila Kratochvila’s world record run back in 1983.

This was championship racing, though, rather than a duel with the clock and after her European crown in Birmingham, Werro has shown that she can also win the tactical battles, crossing the line in 1:55.88, with Hodgkinson second in 1:56.26.

That leaves Hodgkinson with a target to chase in 2027, with just one race at Athlos in London to come this season, and the 24-year-old is relishing the challenge.

She added: “I honestly love it. I think it's really great for our sport and for women's sport to have so many amazing women pushing each other. I'm happy to be part of it. Hopefully, next time, I'll come out on top.

“I'm always there fighting. That's something to be proud of and take into the future. I'm only 24 and hopefully I'll be around for a lot longer.”

Hodgkinson’s efforts weren’t in vain, as she walked away with a cool £55,000 in prize money.

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