Why bittersweet Diamond run left record-breaking Keely Hodgkinson beaten - but 'not disappointed'
Keely Hodgkinson reflected on 'an interesting race' in Stockholm - where she set a new personal best AND British record, despite being beaten by Audrey Werro.
The 22-year-old from Atherton, who is trained by Wigan duo Trevor Painter and his wife, Jenny Meadows, ran a near-faultless race at the Diamond League meeting on Sunday evening.
But she was overtaken in the home straight by Swiss athlete Werro, whose time of 1:53.98 was the third fastest EVER recorded over two laps.
Hodgkinson had made no secret of her desire to challenge the long-standing world record of 1:53.28 - set by Jarmila Kratochvílova of Czechoslovakia in Munich on July 26, 1983.
Competing in her first outdoor 800m of the season, Hodgkinson - who smashed the world indoor record four months ago - clearly had mixed emotions after the race.
"It was a quick one, a really interesting race," she said. "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."
Hodgkinson was asked whether her recent runs over 400m had been a factor in the situation.
"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," she said. "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."
She insisted the experience would prove to be a ‘pivotal moment’ in her bid to break the world record.
“I am still in shock,” added Hodgkinson. “It’s really crazy. Now I believe the world record can fall this year.
"Honestly, I’m not that disappointed. I’ve mentioned the world record, and, to get down to the times that we’re talking about, you can’t do it by yourself. So I think this will actually be a pivotal moment.
“I really work well with a little bit of anger and motivation so I can’t complain too much. Beforehand I was a bit apprehensive, because I hadn’t done a specific 800m block, but I knew I was at least in 1:54-low shape.
“But she’s getting the best out of me and I still believe in myself – the world record is still my goal in London next month, I still believe I can do it.”
Not surprisingly, the winner of the race was struggling to get her head round what had just happened.
“I still need to process,” said Werro. “I am still in shock at this performance! When the pacemaker dropped out, I decided to follow Keely as long as possible and I gave it everything I had. It's really crazy.”