Georgia Hunter Bell delivered a front running demonstration in the women’s 800m final at the UK Championships in Birmingham on Sunday (21), taking the victory in 1:55.93.
On the same track which will host the European Athletics Championships from 10-16 August, Hunter Bell led every step of the way, passing through the 200m in 28.38 and 400m in 57.02 with the rest of the field already strung out in single file behind her.
The world 800m silver medallist's strength came into play on the second lap, barely wavering as she crossed the finish-line in 1:55.93 to shatter 2004 Olympic champion Kelly Holmes' 31-year-old championship record of 1:57.56.
Her time was also a stadium record as she moves to third on the 2026 world 800m list behind Switzerland’s Audrey Werro and her training partner Keely Hodgkinson who clocked 1:53.98 and 1:54.33 respectively in a historic race in the Stockholm Diamond League on 7 June.
By contrast, the men's 800m final was a considerably more tactical affair with 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman holding off Ben Pattison for the title, 1:45.40 to 1:45.49.
Championship record for Anning, Eduan shocks Hunt
World indoor 400m champion Amber Anning won a highly competitive women's 400m final in 50.16, improving her previous championship record of 50.47 which was set in 2024.
In a final which was missing Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson who was a late withdrawal, Anning took a narrow victory over Yemi Mary John who also ducked under the previous championship record in second with 50.23.
The strength in depth in British one-lap running was on display as 19-year-old Charlotte Henrich, who won the European U20 title in Tampere last August, made another big advancement, finishing third in 50.58.
Two-time European 400m champion Matthew Hudson-Smith also confirmed his return to form with victory in the men's 400m in 44.45. He won the title ahead of Ben Jefferies who improved his lifetime best by almost one second from 45.58 to 44.66 to take the runner-up spot ahead of Charlie Dobson in third in 44.69.
European U23 champion Success Eduan produced a surprise victory in the 200m over world silver medallist Amy Hunt who was honing in on the sprint double having won the 100m title yesterday.
Hunt came off the bend with a narrow lead but Eduan produced an excellent last 50 metres to take the victory in a lifetime best of 22.43 into a headwind of 0.9 m/s ahead of Hunt, who was racing the fourth time over the weekend, in 22.64.
By contrast, the men's 200m final went to form with four-time European champion Zharnel Hughes taking the title in 20.04, the fastest time by a European in 2026.
Other highlights on the second day of the UK Championships included Kristian Imroth winning the men's 3000m steeplechase title in a championship record of 8:18.97 and Emily Newnham and Alistair Chalmers sweeping the 400m hurdles titles in 54.50 and 49.05 respectively.