In a dramatic event in Stockholm, Audrey Werro recorded the fastest 800m time seen since the Cold War era, defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson. Werro finished in 1min 53.98sec, marking the third fastest time in history. She now trails only Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 world record of 1:53.28 and Nadezhda Olizarenko’s 1:53.43 from 1980.
Hodgkinson, who holds the British record of 1:54.33 and ranks sixth all-time, remained positive. She stated that the loss would serve as a pivotal moment to help her pursue Kratochvilova’s world record. Hodgkinson explained that she had been focusing on 400m speed and 1500m stamina rather than specific 800m training, though she felt she was in "1:54-low" condition. She intends to target the world record during the London Diamond League in July, noting that anger and motivation drive her performance.
The race was a thriller, with pacemakers leading the field to a halfway mark of 55.54. Hodgkinson attempted the same strategy she used to beat Werro at the World Indoor Championships in March, accelerating with 300m left. However, Werro held her position and surged ahead in the final 50m. The 22-year-old Swiss athlete expressed shock at her performance and belief that the world record could fall this year.
Elsewhere, 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus made a remarkable Diamond League debut in the men’s 800m. Having become the youngest track and field world champion in history indoors in March, the American continued his success by defeating a competitive field, including 2023 world champion and Paris silver medallist Marco Arop. Despite his nerves regarding the competition, Lutkenhaus finished with a time of 1:42.70.
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