Keely is looking forward to 2026
Keely Hodgkinson is listed to run the 400m on the Novuna UK Championships this coming weekend. This doesn’t imply that she is searching for choice for the European Championships within the one-lap occasion. The choice standards are the primary two athletes within the trials, plus a 3rd athlete on the selectors’ discretion. Until they’ve a medical exemption, athletes are required to run within the trials however not essentially within the occasion through which they’re searching for choice.
In a UK Athletics press level earlier this month, Keely defined her pondering: “I’ve all the time thought-about myself a 400/800 kind athlete. I don’t suppose I’ve proven all my potential within the 400 but. I bought a little bit of a glimpse of what I may do indoors, so I’m actually excited to convey that outdoor. I’m nonetheless very a lot studying the occasion, nonetheless not fairly positive tips on how to run it, so it’s going to be a enjoyable little day. Hopefully, bringing down my 400 PR. It’s simply going to make that first lap at 800 really feel good. I feel it is going to give us some confidence for the 800”.
Most 800m athletes additionally run 1500s, however Keely has not run a 1500 since 2018, when she was 16. Her PR is 4:30 from 2017. Nevertheless, she did make one fascinating admission to the GB observe and subject writers: “I used to be eager about it the opposite day, and I used to be like, wouldn’t it’s actually cool if I may do like sub-50 or sub-2 and a sub-4 in my profession. I feel that will be a very nice little general purpose to have. I feel sub-50 is more durable than sub-4, nevertheless it’s a pleasant little problem, and I’m simply trying ahead to it and watching every thing come collectively”.
It isn’t the primary time Keely has run 400 at trials. On the 2022 Indoor trials, she ran three 400s in two days with a better of 52.42. In 2023, she took bronze on the European U23S in 51.76 as a part of her preparation for the World Championships in Budapest, the place she took silver within the 800. Earlier this month, she ran a PR within the Golden Gala in Rome of 51.14, however in a race of 400 specialists, she was properly down the sector. She was pleased with the race, suggesting that “the lineup in Rome was loopy” and that she was “actually throwing myself within the deep finish there. However I feel it’s fairly good to place myself ready the place, on paper, I’m entering into slowest and to go up in opposition to women which were doing this occasion and are world finalists and medalists and Olympic medalists”.
In her personal occasion, the 800, she has already set an indoor world file this yr, received the World Indoors, and set a brand new GB out of doors file, albeit ending second to Audrey Werro within the latter case.
Keely mentioned that her summer time was nonetheless being finalized, however she was undoubtedly planning to compete within the European Championships in Birmingham. “It will likely be cool to have the ability to defend the title at house. I’ve bought 4 European titles now, 2 indoors and two outdoor. Once more, if I have been to consider little objectives at the back of my thoughts, I feel Laura Muir has probably the most European titles, and I’d like to get close to that and break that. I feel she’s bought one thing like seven, which is loopy. So yeah, I have to hold competing to try this as a result of Europeans are each two years, and to have it on house soil once more is a chance to run in entrance of the UK crowd. I can’t wait”. Whereas not but determined, she mentioned that with the Europeans firmly in her plans, it was unlikely she would run on the Commonwealth Video games.
She’s going to run within the London Diamond League or the Novuna London Athletics Meet, to present it its full title, within the 800. She has talked about attempting to interrupt the out of doors world file. May the 2 coincide? “Yeah, clearly, I’d like to have that occur on house soil. And like I’ve mentioned, I get actually enthusiastic about London. There’s only a entire crowd and every thing. I feel as a British individual competing there, it’s simply a lot enjoyable. And it’s undoubtedly the primary factor I’m trying ahead to on the calendar this yr. May be about the entire world information”.
After two seasons throughout which she has needed to handle accidents, Keely is match and properly in 2026. It may show to be an thrilling summer time for her and people of us who’re in a position to watch her.
