Kelly is waiting for 2026
Keely Hodgkinson specified for the 400 m run Novuna UK Championship this coming weekend. This does not mean that he seeks election European Championship one lap at the event. Selection criteria are the top two athletes at the trials, plus a third athlete at the discretion of the selectors. Unless they have a medical exemption, athletes are required to participate in tryouts, but not required if they seek selection.
A: UK Athletics press outlet earlier this month Keely explained his point. “I’ve always considered myself a 400/800 type athlete. I don’t think I’ve played my full potential in the 400 yet. I got a little idea of what I can do inside, so I’m really excited to bring it outside. I’m still learning the event a lot, not sure how to run it yet, so it’s a bit of fun. A PR would just make the 800 the first lap.
Many 800m athletes also run 1500m. but Keely hasn’t run 1500 since 2018, when he was 16 years old. His PR is 4:30 in 2017. However, he made an interesting confession to the GB track and field writers. Wouldn’t it be really cool if I could do something like 50 or sub-2 and sub-4 in my career?. I think that would be a really nice little overall goal to have. I think sub-50 is harder than sub-4, but it’s a nice little challenge and I’m just looking forward to it and watching it all come together.”
This isn’t the first time Keeley has run the 400 at the trials. At the 2022 Indoor trials, he ran three 400s over two days with a best of 52.42. In in 2023 he won a bronze medal European U23S in: 51.76: as part of his preparation World Championship in Budapestwhere he took silver 800 Earlier this month, he drove in PR Golden Gala in Rome from 51.14, but in the 400 pro race, he was well down the field. He was pleased with the race, suggesting that “the line-up in Rome was crazy” and that he was “going really deep there. But I think it’s great to put myself in a position where, on paper, I’m going the slowest and going up against girls who have competed in this event and are world finalists, medalists and Olympic medalists.”
At his own event, 800, he already has set a world indoor space record this year, won the World Indoor, and set the GB outdoor record, although in the latter case he finished second to Audrey Verreaux.
Kelly said her summer was still winding down, but she definitely planned to compete in that tournament European Championship in Birmingham. “It would be great to defend the title at home, I have Four European titles now, 2 indoors and two outdoors. Again, if I thought about small goals in my mind, I think Laura Muir has the most European titles, and I would like to approach it and break it. I think she’s a size seven, which is crazy. So yes, I have to keep competing to do that because the Europeans are every two years and having it on home soil again is an opportunity to run in front of the UK crowd. I can’t wait.” Still undecided, he said With the Europeans firmly in his plans, he is unlikely to feature in the Commonwealth Games.
He will run London Diamond League or Novuna London Athletics Meeting, give its full name, at 800. He talked about trying to break the outdoor world record. Can the two match? “Yes, obviously I would like it to happen on home soil. And like I said, I’m really excited about London. There’s just a whole crowd and everything. I think competing there as a Brit is great fun. And that’s definitely the main thing I’m looking forward to on this year’s calendar. Maybe all the world records.”
After two seasons in which he had to manage injuries, Keely is fit and well for 2026. It could be an interesting summer for him and those of us who get to watch him.
