Ladies’s 800 steals the present
Alongside Noah Lyles’ stellar efficiency within the 100 meters, the race of the London Diamond League was the ladies’s 800m. It additionally units up slightly properly the subsequent massive girls’s 800 meter race, in Paris subsequent month.
With Mary Moraa operating Doha and Pre in Might and solely the Kenyan trials in June, on paper she appears under-prepared. However Mary is nothing if not unpredictable. Since beating Mary at Pre, Keely Hodgkinson has run 3 rounds on the European Championship and received Hengelo and London – plus operating 400 on the GB Champs. For the impartial observer, it’s a disgrace that Athing Mu is not going to be in Paris, having fallen within the brutal US trials.
The London 800m was as outstanding for the instances because the British 1-2-3. Earlier than approaching to the winners, it must be mentioned what a outstanding race it was, with all 10 women ending underneath 1:59 – and 7 PRs recorded. I’m certain that should you had advised Allie Wilson earlier than the race that she was going to run a PR of 1:57.52, she would have been delighted – however she wouldn’t have anticipated to complete 7th. Equally, Laura Muir should have been scratching her head after operating a 1:57.6 and discovering herself eighth!
The highest 4 have been
1 Keely Hodgkinson 1:54.61 WL, MR, NR, PB
2 Jemma Reekie 1:55.61
3 Georgia Bell 1:56.28
4 Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jamaica) 1:56.83
Hodgkinson and Reekie every took a second off their PR. Bell who will run 1500m in Paris took three seconds off hers. Absent from the race was the third GB 800 runner for Paris, Phoebe Gill. She is operating within the European Below 18s this weekend. You could recall that Gill needed to decline an invitation to the European Champs in June – couldn’t get the time without work Excessive College!
Hodgkinson summed up her efficiency: “I felt actually good right now, I simply needed to go for it and see what was there. It was just a little little bit of bravery and fearlessness with a terrific ambiance like this, I didn’t wish to waste the chance. The Brits know placed on an athletics meet, I want there have been extra on this nation as a result of it’s the most effective crowd I’ve ever run in entrance of. I’m feeling actually good and assured forward of Paris”.
Jemma Reekie mentioned: “ I simply needed to have a stable run out right here right now. I had COVID a few weeks in the past so I missed a little bit of time however I knew if I used to be chasing after Keely I’d run quick. I used to be actually proud of my place, we went off just a little faster than I anticipated”.
Georgie Bell commented: “I’m a Londoner so it’s cool to carry out in London and I’m loving the expertise. The 800m helps me with pace coaching for the 1500m, I’ve not acquired any extra races earlier than the Video games only a block of coaching. Till then I’m simply specializing in staying wholesome, pleased and hopefully have efficiency in Paris”.
It’s exhausting to argue that Hodgkinson has not set herself up because the favorite in Paris. She is so good for the game, the way in which she competes so usually. Her choice to run 400 at GB trials – an choice open to 2023 World Championship medalists to run a unique occasion at trials – was, I perceive, partly a chance to remind the 4 by 400 relay selectors that she is on the market if required!
Many individuals might be delighted to see Jemma Reekie operating so effectively. On the Tokyo Olympics Jemma was within the bronze medal place till Raevyn Rogers handed her on the road to take the medal by 0.09 seconds, leaving Jemma fourth. Since then Jemma has had an acrimonious break up from her coach, relocated 500 miles from her native Scotland, struggled to recuperate from glandular fever (mono) to not point out COVID. With all that behind her, it’s nice to see her within the type of her life going into her second Olympics.
If a mere Diamond League race, can produce this sort of pleasure, simply think about what may occur in Paris. I’m glad that I might be a type of privileged to be there to see it.