Keely Hodgkinson Strolls into 800m Semis to Keep World Indoor Championships Dream Alive as Kenyans Fade
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Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson started her quest for a first World Indoor Championship gold in fine fashion as she eased into the semi-final of the 800m in Torun, Poland on Friday.
Coming into the competition as the firm favourite, Hodgkinson lived up to the billing as she lit up the first heat of the 800m first round, taking the lead from start to finish.
The world indoor 800m record holder clocked 2:00.32 to win the heat ahead of Switzerland’s Valentina Rosamilia, who timed 2:01.15, to seal second place and the final qualification spot. The heat also had Kenyan Rosemary Longisa who started well but faded off to finish last in a new personal best 2:03.48.
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Kenyans Eliminated as Hodgkinson Shines
Kenyans continued to disappoint as in the second heat, Glady Chepng’etich also finished last, having clocked 2:02.23 as Pernille Karlsen Antonsen of Norway (2:00.77) won ahead of Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin (2:01.32) who clinched the qualification slots.
Five other runners clocked better times than Hodgkinson but that will not worry the British runner who will surely save the best for last.
Hodgkinson came into the competition as the athlete in best form, having lowered the British short-track record from 1:57.18 to 1:56.33 at the UK Indoor Championships before breaking the long-standing world indoor 800m record in Lievin with 1:54.87 last month.
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With only an indoor medal missing from her collection, the 24-year-old will be highly motivated in Poland ahead of Saturday’s semi-final showdown.
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