Hodgkinson Opens World Title Campaign with Victory

"A strong return to the track signals big things ahead for Hodgkinson."

Keely Hodgkinson, the British middle-distance star, made a strong start to her bid for a world 800m title at the World Athletics Championships. She won her opening heat with a time of 1:59.79, safely securing a place in the semi-finals.

Hodgkinson’s performance comes after a challenging period, having missed much of the season due to a hamstring injury. Her return to competition has been impressive, with the win in Tokyo marking a successful start to her world championship campaign.

Other British runners also featured in the heats. Georgia Hunter Bell advanced to the semi-finals, while Jemma Reekie, another contender, did not progress.

Hodgkinson described her opening victory as “nice and safely through,” emphasizing her focus on progressing round by round. With the semi-finals ahead, all eyes will be on her as she aims to capture her first world 800m title.