Keely Hodgkinson breaks British 800m indoor record

The 23-year-old reigning Olympic champion blew the rest of the field away in Birmingham as she clocked 1min 56.33secs to beat her own national record of 1min 57.18.

It was the world’s fastest time in an indoor 800m race in 24 years and the third fastest time in history.

The event in the Midlands counts towards athletes qualifying for the World Indoor Championships in Poland next month.

She had decided before the heats got going not to take part in Sunday’s final because of switching her focus to the Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophee in France on Thursday – an event she has had planned to contest for six months.

Hodgkinson said: “I’m in really good shape at the moment and I’ve seen in training I am and we have some high hopes for the next couple of weeks for the indoors. Today was about practising that first 200m.

“A good start makes such a difference. I accidentally got the best. We wanted to practise that, 1.56, not bad.

She added: “I have high hopes for Thursday. Considering I didn’t have to do both rounds (in Birmingham), why would I? It may sound a little bit odd to some people. We came to a mutual agreement and I got a nice time.”

Hodgkinson blitzed through the opening 200m in 27.36secs before reaching 400m in 56.28secs, leaving her opponents trailing.

She missed this event last year through a hamstring injury and is not taking anything for granted after a frustrating year.

“I’ve had my healthiest winter for years, consistent habits and I think that shows it there,” she said.

“I’m enjoying it, was excited to come out for this, was a bit worried about the one round situation but it’s the best thing for me at the moment.

“I’m not taking any of it for granted to be honest. It was so frustrating being on the sidelines for such a long time. I’m just happy to be able to do an indoors and pick what I’m able to do and have nothing holding me back.”