The British middle distance runner is a strong favorite to win the women’s 800m title in Torun on Sunday.
Keeley Hodgkinson is set to win her first world indoor title in Torun on Sunday evening after reaching the semi-finals of the 800m on Saturday morning (March 21).
Controlling the pace as she covered the 400m in 57.55 and the 600m in 88.22, the British runner had only American Addison Wylie for company as she easily won the last leg in 1:58.53, with Wylie taking the second automatic qualifier from the heat in 1:58.75.
Hodgkinson is 1/12 favorite with one bookmaker going into Sunday’s final, with Audrey Verreau second favorite at 15/2.
Can anyone stop the seemingly unstoppable 24-year-old Briton?
In other races, Switzerland’s Audrey Verreau won in 1:59.27, ahead of Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachu in 1:59.46, while Australia’s Hayley Kitching won in 2:00.06, the latter recalling the Aussie’s Man800 gold at worlds. in 2008
There will also be just one Briton in the final as Issy Boffy was fourth in the Kitching heat in 2:01.12.
“The race was good,” Hodgkinson said. “I just did what my coach said to be faster in the first 400m and then finish around 1:58.
“I’m looking for my bed now. It’s hard to run in the morning. We’ll see how fast I can run tomorrow.”
“The plan for the final is to have fun out there. Yes, I have medals in the back of my head, but when you focus on having fun, everything is better.
“When I saw Keely break 1:55 this winter I was excited, it means our event is growing. I don’t think he’s unbeatable, everyone can be beaten.”
Boffy said. “It was a race where I could have made the final. It felt like a heat for us that I could have been in the top two, but I didn’t. After all, my body is tired. I’ve had an incredible indoor season so far, but I’m running again this time like I’ve never run before.
Britain and Ireland’s Ben Pattison and Mark English caused disappointment in the men’s 800m as they finished fifth and fourth respectively with Australia’s Peter Ball winning in 1:46.21 in the first heat.
Pattison was in good control of the race from the front, but English ran lively past him to take a lap, only for the Irishman to fade down the back straight.
“It’s very disappointing,” Pattison said. “I executed my plan pretty well, but I was pushed out of my lead. I tried to hold him back and I think I need to hit the gym. I had a lot of run left in my legs and then I ended up in fifth place with nowhere to run. I have to learn from it though and it’s my mistake at the end of the day.”
USA’s Cooper Lutkenhaus, just 17, continued to impress as the teenager looked to win easily in 1:44.29, just ahead of Mohamed Ataoui’s Spanish record of 1:44.48. Buoyed by the home support, Poland’s Maciej Wiederka led the way through the 400m in 50.19, but missed the final after finishing third in 1:44.59.
Lutkenhaus will face Elliott Crestan, among others, in Sunday’s final as the in-form Belgian clocked 1:45.71 to cap his streak.
St Lucia’s Julienne Alfred and Jamaica’s Briana Liston led the women’s 60m qualifier in 7.06 on Saturday morning, while Italy’s Zainab Doso, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Jasius Sears of the USA all clocked 7.07.
Britain’s Amy Hunt also qualified with a 7.15 over host Eva Svoboda’s 7.08 in the final.
Kelly Dualla, the Italian prodigy who doesn’t turn 17 until November, also qualified for Saturday night’s semifinals with a 7.27 in the Alfred heat.
In the men’s 60m hurdles, Trey Cunningham led the way with 7.45 as major host nation hopes Jakub Szymanski also eased in with 7.50.
