Keely Hodgkinson delivered a strong message to her competitors ahead of next month’s World Athletics Championships, breaking the meet record to win the 800m at the Lausanne Diamond League. Despite cool, wet conditions more typical of Manchester in October than a Swiss summer night, Hodgkinson finished in 1:55.69, winning by 10 meters against a strong field and securing her second victory in just five days.
Although her time was nearly a second slower than her record-breaking run in Poland on Saturday—the ninth-fastest in history—she still posted the second-quickest time of the year under challenging weather. Switzerland’s Audrey Werro took second in 1:57.34, overtaking Hodgkinson’s training partner, Georgia Hunter Bell, in the final meters. Hodgkinson’s performance erased Maria Mutola’s previous meet record of 1:56.25 set in 2002.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season,” said Hodgkinson, who had been sidelined for 376 days with three hamstring injuries before her return on Saturday. “When the pace is that fast, you just focus on your own race, and it led to a solid result.”
Hunter Bell, the Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, expressed frustration with her performance: “It was a bit cold and wet, but coming from England, we can’t complain too much. I still wanted to run faster.” She is set to announce this week whether she will compete in the 800m or 1500m at the world championships in Tokyo, and this race likely didn’t make the decision any easier.
In the men’s 800m, American Josh Hoey surged to victory in 1:42.82, overtaking Britain’s Max Burgin in the final 50m. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi finished second, while Burgin placed fourth with a time of 1:43.44.
Hodgkinson’s back-to-back wins dispelled any concerns about a “Bounce Factor”—the idea that athletes might perform well after a long break but struggle in their next race. Her dominance also served as a warning to rivals, as world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso discovered. After following Hodgkinson’s blistering pace through 600m, Sekgodiso faded to sixth place in the final stretch.
In other events, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville edged out Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the men’s 100m. British sprinters Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita had disappointing results in the women’s 200m. Asher-Smith started well but finished fifth in 22.64, while Neita came in seventh with 22.73. American Brittany Brown won the race in 22.23, with Favour Ofili taking second.He suffered a defeat, losing to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville. In heavy rain, Seville delivered the standout performance of the night, winning in 9.87 seconds, while Lyles finished second in 10.02 seconds. This marked the American’s second loss in four days, following a defeat to another Jamaican, Kishane Thompson, on Saturday.
This article was updated on 21 August 2025. A previous version incorrectly stated that Keely Hodgkinson ran 800 meters in 85 seconds; that was actually her time after 600 meters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Keely Hodgkinsons recordbreaking 800m victory at the Lausanne Diamond League
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is Keely Hodgkinson
A She is a British middledistance runner who specializes in the 800 meters and is an Olympic silver medalist
Q What record did she break
A She broke the British 800m record which was previously held by Kelly Holmes since 1995
Q What was her winning time
A She ran a time of 15578
Q Where did this race happen
A At the Athletissima meeting which is part of the Wanda Diamond League series in Lausanne Switzerland
Q Did she win the race
A Yes she won the race with a stunning performance leading from the front for much of it
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q Whose record did she break and what was the previous time
A She broke Kelly Holmess British record of 15621 which had stood for nearly 29 years
Q How does her time rank globally or historically
A Her time of 15578 is one of the fastest times in the world this year and places her among the top 10 performers of all time in the womens 800m
Q What is the Diamond League
A It is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions representing the highest level of the sport outside of the World Championships and Olympics
Q What does this performance mean for her Olympic chances
A This dominant victory and national record make her one of the top favorites to win a medal and potentially the gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics
Q How did she pace her race to achieve this time
A Reports indicate she took the lead early and maintained a very fast and consistent pace throughout both laps showing incredible strength and composure
Practical Fan Questions
Q Where can I watch a replay of the race
A Replays are often available on the official Diamond League YouTube channel or on the broadcasting service that holds the rights in your country
