Olympic champion assured of beating Jolanda Ceplak’s 1:55.82 from 2002 in Lievin on Thursday and „welcomes competitors“ from Audrey Werro and Tsige Duguma.
Twenty-four hours earlier than taking to the observe at Lievin to assault the world indoor 800m report, Keely Hodgkinson regarded relaxed and assured on the pre-event press convention. With Jolanda Ceplak’s 2002 mark of 1:55.82 as her goal, she stated: „I feel it’s mine to take so I’m wanting ahead to giving it a go.“
Hodgkinson is contemporary from setting a British report of 1:56.33 in Birmingham on Saturday. „It was good to have a run out earlier than this week as I’ve not raced indoors for 3 years,“ she stated. „I didn’t imply to go that quick which most likely reveals I’m in a extremely good place.“
In Lievin on Thursday night she’s going to face, amongst others, Audrey Werro of Switzerland and Tsigie Duguma of Ethiopia. Werro held the 2026 world lead till final weekend whereas Duguma received the world indoor title in 2024 and was runner-up to Hodgkinson on the Paris Olympics.
„I’ll do what I do and focus alone race,“ stated Hodgkinson, including with a smile that she did not wish to give her race technique away. „I’m certain all of them have their very own plans too.
„I feel it is going to be a enjoyable and thrilling race and I’m pleased to have these women in it as we are able to push one another and that’s while you get actually aggressive races and quick instances.
„I welcome the competitors.“
Jarmila Kratochvila’s long-standing out of doors world report of 1:53.28 continues to hang-out Hodgkinson as effectively and the Czech athlete’s 1983 efficiency may be within the Briton’s thoughts when she takes to the Lievin observe.
„Once I line up I at all times attempt to run as quick as potential and I’m positively within the form to run a quick time,“ she stated. „I additionally assume it’s not simply concerning the world (indoor) report however seeing how briskly we are able to actually go, particularly at the moment of yr and on an indoor observe.“
Hodgkinson additionally believes the brand new begin within the 800m indoors, the place athletes break for the within lane later than they did beforehand can even go well with her with regards to operating as quick as potential. She explains: „The brand new begin is unquestionably sooner than the outdated one and I actually like that. It provides us extra time to not being on prime of one another. We’ve 150m in lanes as a substitute of 100m and I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner to be sincere.“
MORE: Kratochvilova’s immortal world report
What would breaking a world report imply to her? „I feel it will be simply good to have one. And it’s a marker that’s achievable. It was additionally set on the day I used to be born which is a bit bizarre however I like that stat and I feel it’s mine to take so I’m wanting ahead to giving it a go.“
She added: „There are not any limits actually and I’m studying this yearly as I get stronger. These 1:54s and 1:55s have gotten extra common and the usual is getting greater and better and I can positively see some nice issues sooner or later and hopefully I’ve nonetheless bought one other 10 years in me.“
READ MORE: Keely takes purpose at Ceplak’s 800m report
Following Lievin, Hodgkinson will race over 400m within the build-up to the World Indoor Championships in Poland subsequent month. „It is going to be good as I’ve not finished one for 2 years,“ she says.
Then, on the World Indoors itself, she provides: „I’ve by no means truly finished a World Indoor Champs regardless of attempting thrice to make it there. I hope to choose up my first world title so as to add to my assortment and look ahead to doing it in Europe.“
