Keely Hodgkinson took an excellent victory at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday (25) ahead of her 800m title defence at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
The reigning European champion both indoors and outdoors ran an even-paced race, coming from behind to sweep past world champion Mary Moraa with 120 metres remaining for victory in her first 800m of the season in 1:55.78 ahead of Moraa (1:56.71) with fellow Brit Jemma Reekie third (1:57.45).
Hodgkinson's winning time was a world lead, the third fastest time of her career so far and confirms her status as the outstanding favourite for the 800m title in Rome next month.
Speaking to European Athletics earlier this season, Hodgkinson said: "I would like to win in my career as many medals as possible. And I think if I was to miss it (Roma 2024), I’d be missing out on an opportunity. I’d love to look back on my career and say I did this many European Championships and I won this many medals. I don’t want anything to go to waste."
Kerr takes down Ingebrigtsen in the mile
The Bowerman Mile was arguably the most anticipated race of the meeting and duly lived up to the pre-race hype with world 1500m champion Josh Kerr holding off Jakob Ingebrigtsen for victory in a British record of 3:45.34 to take down Steve Cram's mark of 3:46.32 which was set in 1985 and was a world record at the time.
In his first race in eight months due to injury, Ingebrigtsen's time of 3:45.60 to finish second behind his arch-rival represented an auspicious return to competition after a long hiatus and bodes well for the European Athletics Championships in Rome where the Norwegian endeavours to defend both his 1500m and 5000m titles.
"My hope and expectations (are) probably to defend both titles. Hoping for good weather and a good championship in general. It’s somewhat earlier this year than it has been previously, so that’s also a nice challenge. That makes it a little bit exciting," he said earlier this season.
Former world indoor 60m hurdles champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela is another athlete rounding into excellent form ahead of Roma 2024.
The Frenchwoman equalled her national record in the 100m hurdles with 12.52 for victory over a loaded field including Olympic champion and training partner Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who was second in 12.54.
Elsewhere around Europe...
In her last competition before the European Athletics Championships, European indoor silver medallist Larissa Iapichino set a season's best of 6.86m in the long jump in Palermo on Sunday (26), the longest jump outdoors by a European in 2024.
Rising Hungarian star Boglarka Takacs came away with two national records at the Hungarian GP Series in Budapest, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, on Sunday. The double European U23 silver medallist from 2023 won the 100m in 11.11 and the 200m in 22.71 to improve her Hungarian records in both events.
At the IFAM Outdoor in Brussels, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, Michael Obasuyi equalled his Belgian record and European lead with 13.20 in the 110m hurdles while Cathelijn Peeters - a training partner of two-time European Athlete of the Year Femke Bol - won the 400m hurdles in a lifetime best and European lead of 54.32.
Yann Schrub also won the 5000m in a lifetime best of 13:04.27 in the city where he struck gold at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in December.
In her first race since making shockwaves with her 1:57.86 clocking in Belfast, 17-year-old Phoebe Gill won the 800m at the British Milers Club Grand Prix in Manchester, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting, on Saturday (25) in 1:58.08 ahead of Ireland's Ciara Mageean who came away with a national record of 1:58.51.
Nadine Visser opened her summer campaign with a 12.94 clocking in the 100m hurdles at the Golden Spike, World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting, on Saturday while reigning European outdoor champion Jessica Schilder won the shot put with 19.24m.
At the Brühler Mai-Meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting, on Saturday, Timothe Mumenthaler won the 200m in a fast 20.35 over William Reais (20.36), and Leonie Pointet won the women's 200m in 22.96 from Sarah Atcho in 22.98. Salomé Kora also won the 100m in 11.15
Steven Mills for European Athletics