British training partners Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell each grabbed a medal in a thrilling women’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday (21), though it was not the result many expected.
Olympic champion Hodgkinson, twice a world silver medallist, was striving to add the missing title she most craved.
And she led into the finishing straight but was caught by fast finishing Kenyan Lilian Odira who came hurtling past to take gold in a championship record of 1:54.62. Hunter Bell edged out Hodgkinson by 0.01 for silver, clocking a personal best of 1:54.90.
Searing opening pace
Hodgkinson was the pre-race favourite, but having only opened her season in August due a hamstring injury, perhaps was not quite at her best.
She also closely followed Moraa’s searing opening pace, clocking a first lap of 55.67. It was unsustainable and both Moraa and Hodgkinson paid the price in the closing straight, with the British runner having to settle for bronze on this occasion.
For Hunter Bell, it was another global medal to add to her collection following Olympic 1500m bronze last year and 1500m bronze at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March.
The 2023 champion’s namesake Sarah Moraa, also of Kenya, finished fourth in 1:55.74, as the early leader faded to seventh in 1:57.10.
Fresh Bell
"I needed to be fresh to win a medal here," said Bell. Both events (800m and 1500m) are very hard. I am very proud with my performance tonight. This is my best time ever. The pace was harder than expected in the first lap and I tried not to get dropped.
"This has been a great season and I want to thank our coach. I felt really good today. I tried to use the least amount of energy to make it to the final. I felt really relaxed in the semi-finals and I put myself in the best position in the final. That's championship racing.
"We are very lucky to train together. That's how we get to be the fastest in the world. We push each other. You don't want to be alone in training. You need people better than you. I was away from track for a while when I was in technology sales for seven years. People don't see all the years of training I did when I had a full-time job, funding myself to get to races. I am so happy it's all come together."
Gold ambition remains for Hodgkinson
"It got away from me once again," said Hodgkinson, rueing another near miss at the World Athletics Championships. "I went and gave my best. I will go back and see what I could have done differently. I wanted gold so I am a bit disappointed.
"I think if someone told me back in June, 'You are going to run, get a bronze medal', I would have taken it. But I came here as a favourite and I wanted to fulfill that. It's part of my journey, I want to get that world gold and will definitely get it at some point.
"This season, coming back from an injury showed me how strong I am. It doesn't matter what happened. It's awesome being here. At some point I didn't think I was going to be. I think I can take a lot of pride in what I have done. I have the best people in the world with me and I am grateful for that."
