Keely Hodgkinson breaks British indoor record
Keely Hodgkinson has launched her 2026 campaign in spectacular style, smashing her own British indoor 800m record at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham, reports BritPanorama.
The Olympic silver medallist, aged 23, dominated the heats with a stunning time of 1:56.33, eclipsing her previous national mark of 1:57.18. This performance ranks as the quickest 800m run anywhere in the world for nearly a quarter of a century, placing her third on the all-time list for the distance.
However, Hodgkinson will not be competing in Sunday’s final, having announced her intention to withdraw from the championship decider earlier this week. Instead, she is setting her sights on continental competition, with the Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophee in France her next target.
The decision to skip the domestic final allows Hodgkinson to manage her schedule effectively ahead of what promises to be another demanding season on the international circuit. She stated, “I’m in really good shape at the moment and I’ve seen in training I am and we have some high hopes for the next couple of weeks for the indoors. Today was about practising that first 200m.”
Hodgkinson blitzed through the opening 200m in 27.36 seconds before reaching 400m in 56.28 seconds, firmly leaving her opponents trailing. Missing this event last year due to a hamstring injury, she expressed her relief at returning to form, stating, “I’m not taking any of it for granted to be honest. It was so frustrating being on the sidelines for such a long time. I’m just happy to be able to an indoors and pick what I’m able to do and have nothing holding me back.”
In other events, Dina Asher-Smith secured the women’s 60m crown, finishing in 7.05 seconds, ahead of World Championship silver medallist Amy Hunt. Following a strong start, Asher-Smith cruised to victory, and she remarked, “I’m happy, I feel very capable and confident. That’s a great time and I’m happy with my performances today.”
Hunt, despite her disappointment, acknowledged her progress and confidence, stating, “Obviously, it’s not nice to lose to one of your biggest rivals, so I’m slightly frustrated. But on the plus side, we are getting a lot more consistent.”
As the indoor track season unfolds, **Keely Hodgkinson’s** remarkable performance serves as a vivid reminder of the unpredictable nature of athletics, where even minor decisions can steer an athlete toward greater horizons.
