Keely Hodgkinson sets down Paris Olympics marker and calls for more UK athletics events

Keely Hodgkinson called for more athletics meets in the UK after laying down a new national women’s 800m record of 1:54.61 at the London Diamond League meet.

In breaking her own national record of 1:55.19, set last September in Eugene, the Tokyo Olympic and world silver medallist became the sixth-fastest woman in history at her signature distance.

The world-leading time was a clear message from the 22-year-old to her Paris competition, six days before the Olympic opening ceremony, and inspired British team-mates Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell to personal bests for an all-GB top three.

Hodgkinson said: “It was a little bit of bravery and fearlessness with a great atmosphere like this, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity.

“The Brits know how to put on an athletics meet, I wish there were more in this country because it’s the best crowd I’ve ever run in front of.

“I’m feeling really good and confident ahead of Paris. Obviously the main aim is just to get to the final first and then once we’re there we can discuss getting medals.”

British world silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith issued a statement of his own, beating his own European record of 44.07sec in 43.74, while Colchester’s European Championships runner-up Charlie Dobson posted a personal best 44.23 in his fourth-place finish.

Reigning world 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles set a new personal best 9.81 in the men’s 100m curtain-closer, where a trio of Britons missed out on a top three rounded out by South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.

The Carl Lewis-coached Louie Hinchliffe came closest with 9.97 seconds for fourth, 0.03 seconds quicker than world bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes, marking his return to competitive action after sitting out the European championships and British championships with a hamstring problem.

Hughes finished sixth in exactly 10 seconds, one place above Welshman and soon-to-be Olympic debutant Jeremiah Azu.

Dina Asher-Smith was leading late in a much-anticipated women’s 200m before she was overtaken by St Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred and American Gabby Thomas, who crossed first in 21.82, 0.04 seconds faster than Alfred. Asher-Smith’s 22.07 was still good enough for third with Daryll Neita fourth in 22.20.

The British quartet of Asher-Smith, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Neita came out on top of their women’s 4x100m relay, matching the national team record in a dominant, world-leading 41.55 seconds to beat second-placed France, while the second GB entry of Bianca Williams, Desiree Henry, Joy Eze and Success Eduan finished third.

It was a different story for their men’s counterparts Azu, Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Reece Prescod, who were disqualified after miscommunication between Kilty and Prescod resulted in the latter missing the final handover.

GB’s second entry of CJ Ujah, Jeriel Quainoo, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Eugene Amo-Dadzie had better luck, coming third in a race won by Japan.

World indoor champion Molly Caudery shared third place in the pole vault with a best effort of 4.65m, and it was fifth for reigning world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who took part in the long jump with a best of 6.54.

It was ultimately an easy victory for Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol, absent her main Olympic rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who crossed the finish line in 51.30 seconds six days after clocking 50.95, the third-fastest time in history.

Briton Amber Anning was fourth in her women’s 400m, one place above compatriot Laviai Nielsen.

The afternoon featured six para events alongside the Diamond League programme, with a trio of national 100m records set by Britons Zak Skinner (T13), Thomas Young (T38) and Kyle Keyworth (T35).

Tokyo and Rio T38 100m champion Sophie Hahn came out on top of the women’s ambulant 100m with a season’s best 12.55, while Scottish wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn cruised to victory in a women’s 800m that saw GB’s Mel Woods finish third and seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft fifth.