Hodgkinson favoured for Olympic 800 final
Athletics
The much anticipated women’s 800 metres final will take place tonight at 21.47 at Stade de France in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
2020 Olympic champion: Athing Mu (USA). Olympic record-holder: Nadezhda Olizarenko (Soviet Union, 1 minute 53.43 seconds in 1980). 2023 World champion: Mary Moraa (Kenia, 1:56.03). 2024 World leader: Keely Hodgkinson (Britain, 1:54.61).
Without Athing Mu, the race is far more open. On 2024 form Keely Hodgkinson is favourite, especially after her British record at the London Diamond League, but Mary Moraa beat her in Budapest.
Top contenders
Mary Moraa (1:56.71 in 2024). The world champion was only a semi-finalist in Tokyo, but is much improved and can draw on 50.38 400m speed.
Prudence Sekgodiso (South Africa, 1:57.26 in 2024). Won in Marrakesh and Oslo and, though she was well-beaten by Hodgkinson in Hengelo, she looks ready for her first major medal.
Nia Akins (USA, 1:57.36 in 2024). The US trials winner was sixth in Budapest and will not be able to fully replace Mu.
Tsige Duguma (Ethiopia, 1:57.56 in 2024). The 2024 world indoor champion has struggled outdoors and was well down in Eugene and Oslo.
The British Challenge: European champion Hodgkinson, second in Tokyo and at the last two World Championships, can go one better if she can replicate her race plan from the Pre Classic, where she decisively beat Moraa. Jemma Reekie, an unlucky fourth in Tokyo, should make the final again while 17-year-old UK champion Phoebe Gill should join her.
Prediction: 1 Hodgkinson, 2 Moraa, 3 Duguma.
– Sources: World Athletics/Olympic Games/Athletics Weekly
2020 Olympic champion: Athing Mu (USA). Olympic record-holder: Nadezhda Olizarenko (Soviet Union, 1 minute 53.43 seconds in 1980). 2023 World champion: Mary Moraa (Kenia, 1:56.03). 2024 World leader: Keely Hodgkinson (Britain, 1:54.61).
Without Athing Mu, the race is far more open. On 2024 form Keely Hodgkinson is favourite, especially after her British record at the London Diamond League, but Mary Moraa beat her in Budapest.
Top contenders
Mary Moraa (1:56.71 in 2024). The world champion was only a semi-finalist in Tokyo, but is much improved and can draw on 50.38 400m speed.
Prudence Sekgodiso (South Africa, 1:57.26 in 2024). Won in Marrakesh and Oslo and, though she was well-beaten by Hodgkinson in Hengelo, she looks ready for her first major medal.
Nia Akins (USA, 1:57.36 in 2024). The US trials winner was sixth in Budapest and will not be able to fully replace Mu.
Tsige Duguma (Ethiopia, 1:57.56 in 2024). The 2024 world indoor champion has struggled outdoors and was well down in Eugene and Oslo.
The British Challenge: European champion Hodgkinson, second in Tokyo and at the last two World Championships, can go one better if she can replicate her race plan from the Pre Classic, where she decisively beat Moraa. Jemma Reekie, an unlucky fourth in Tokyo, should make the final again while 17-year-old UK champion Phoebe Gill should join her.
Prediction: 1 Hodgkinson, 2 Moraa, 3 Duguma.
– Sources: World Athletics/Olympic Games/Athletics Weekly
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