STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, June 07 — The most stunning result on a breezy day at the BAUHAUS-galan in Stockholm’s Stadion came in the 800, where Keely Hodgkinson had come looking for a fast performance. While she succeeded on that score, finishing 2nd was not what the young Briton had in mind.
The rabbit got out fast and slotting into second was the runner-up to Hodgkinson at the World Indoor, Audrey Werro of Switzerland, with Hodgkinson third. They continued in that order as the pacer clocked a 55.49 first lap, with Werro at 55.8 and Hodgkinson at 56.2. With 300 to go the rabbit dropped and Hodgkinson made a strong move to the lead.
Werro didn’t fold. She stayed on the Olympic champion, who passed 600 in 1:25.3. Around the turn she stayed closer than few have to Hodgkinson in recent years. Then, with 100 left, the Swiss pulled alongside. For the final go, the 22-year-old proved stronger than the champion at age 24, becoming the first woman to break 1:54 in 43 years.
Her 1:53.98, chopping nearly two seconds off her lifetime best, makes Werro the No. 3 all-time performer, just 0.7 away from Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 1983 World Record. For Hodgkinson, a British record 1:54.33 would have to do, making her No. 6 ever. American Roisin Willis scored a PR 1:57.56 in a far-back 3rd.
“I am still in shock at this performance!” said a stunned Werro. “Today I was in great shape, I was ready mentally and also physically, so it was a good day for me. It was not my main goal to follow the pacemaker but the race went like that so I had to run just behind the pacemaker, and when they dropped out, I decided to follow Keely as long as possible and I gave it everything I had. It’s really crazy, I need some time to process what just happened now but I am so happy.”
Responded Hodgkinson, “Massive respect to Audrey. That was incredible racing from her and she helped me to run faster today. I was glad of her pushing me throughout the race and then fighting me to the line at the end, but I won’t let that happen again. I wasn’t expecting that from her today and I thought she’d come back to me, but such a surprise is good for me and for each other, and it’s really great for the event, it’s getting so much faster now.”
Valarie Sion dominated the discus, with any of her first 4 throws good enough for the victory. Her best of 225-1 (68.60) landed in round 2. Her toughest challenge came from Jorinde van Klinken, who hurled a 218-5 (66.57) in round 4 as a response to the big 216-2 (65.89) by Lagi Tausaga.
Said Sion, “The wind was the tricky thing to navigate and I don’t really feel like any of us took advantage of it, to be honest.”
A bold pacemaker in the steeplechase meant that few followed. One who did was Marwa Bouzayani. By 1200, it was just the Tunisian left, as the pacer dropped out early. What initially looked like a miscalculation started to look like a plan, as Bouzayani, who had already broken 9:00 twice this season, kept ticking away the laps and expanding her lead. By the end she had a lead approaching 80 meters as she crossed in a meet record 8:59.28, far ahead of Britain’s Elise Thorner (9:11.01), with Gabbi Jennings 3rd in 9:12.02. Lexi Halliday led the remaining Americans in placing 8th in 9:19.02.
It would have been surprising for anyone in the dash field to seriously challenge world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in her season opener at 100. Indeed, the favorite got out to an early lead that didn’t become impressive until 50 meters, when she turned on a drive that her opponents have only dreamed about. She blasted away to win in 10.84. A surprising improvement in 2nd went to Britain’s Amy Hunt, who cut 0.05 off her best with a 10.97.
Birke Haylom took the non-DL 1500 from the front, moving to the fore before the 800 (2:04.8), then adding a 66.4 before kicking in with a final 300 of 49.4 to win in 4:00.68. Canada’s Lucia Stafford finished well but her 4:01.93 would have to stand for 2nd.
With three throws better than Chase Jackson’s best of 65-4 (19.91), Jessica Schilder took the shot. The Dutchwoman’s best throw came in round 5, when she boomed a meet record 68-6½ (20.89). Jackson admitted she was a lot less than happy: “I’m pretty upset and really disappointed to be honest, I’ve been throwing much further in training all year, really, but it’s just not clicking right for me at the moment for one reason or another. The body isn’t responding well at all to the different time zones. It’s killing me right now.”
Italy’s Larissa Iapichino led the long jump with her first-round 22-5¼ (6.84), then was passed in round 3 when France’s Hilary Kpatcha went one notch better at 22-5¾ (6.85). Monae’ Nichols finished 4th with her 22-1½ (6.74).
STOCKHOLM DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.8): 1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (US) 10.84; 2. Amy Hunt (GB) 10.97; 3. Patrizia van der Weken (Lux) 11.05; 4. Minke Bisschops (Neth) 11.08; 5. Zaynab Dosso (Ita) 11.22; 6. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 11.24.
800: 1. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:53.98 NR (WL) (3, 3 W);
2. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:54.33 NR (6, 6 W);
3. Roisin Willis (US) 1:57.56 (AL);
4. Anaïs Bourgoin (Fra) 1:57.68; 5. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:57.70; 6. Anna Wielgosz (Pol) 1:57.92; 7. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:57.94; 8. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 1:58.26; 9. Nigist Getachew (Eth) 1:58.59; 10. Pernille Karlsen Antonsen (Nor) 1:58.82.
1500: 1. Birke Haylom (Eth) 4:00.68; 2. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:01.93; 3. Erin Wallace (GB) 4:02.87; 4. Haregeweyn Kalayu (Eth) 4:03.86; 5. Joceline Wind (Swi) 4:04.66; 6. Margot Appleton (US) 4:04.92;… 10. Mia Barnett (Swe) 4:06.00;… rabbit—Julia Jaguscik (Pol) (61.07).
St: 1. Marwa Bouzayani (Tun) 8:59.28; 2. Elise Thorner (GB) 9:11.01; 3. Gabrielle Jennings (US) 9:12.02; 4. Kena Tufa (Eth) 9:12.42; 5. Lea Meyer (Ger) 9:13.67; 6. Ilona Mononen (Fin) 9:15.18 NR;… 8. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (US) 9:19.02; 9. Gracie Hyde (US) 9:24.19;… 11. Olivia Markezich (US) 9:25.79; 12. Courtney Wayment (US) 9:29.05.
Field Events
LJ: 1. Hilary Kpatcha (Fra) 22-5¾w (6.85) (21-6¾, f, 22-5¾w, f, 21-9½w, f) (6.57, f, 6.85w, f, 6.64w, f); 2. Larissa Iapichino (Ita) 22-5¼w (6.84) (22-5¼w, 22-3, 21-11½, 20-9¼w, f, 21-10¼) (6.84w, 6.78, 6.69, 6.33w, f, 6.66); 3. Nia Robinson (Jam) 22-3¾w (6.80); 4. Monae’ Nichols (US) 22-1½ (6.74); 5. Agate De Sousa (Por) 21-11¾ (6.70); 6. Malaika Mihambo (Ger) 21-11¾ (6.70); 7. Claire Bryant (US) 21-11½ (6.69); 8. Ayla Hallberg Hossain (Swe) 21-9w (6.63); 9. Lex Brown (US) 21-8¾ (6.62).
SP: 1. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 68-6½ (20.89) (66-8½, 65-½, 65-6, f, 68-6½, f) (20.33, 19.82, 19.96, f, 20.89, f); 2. Chase Jackson (US) 65-4 (19.91); 3. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-3¼ (19.89); 4. Fanny Roos (Swe) 62-¼ (18.90); 5. Yemisi Mabry (Ger) 61-7¾ (18.79); 6. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 60-10¾ (18.56); 7. Abria Smith (US) 60-8½ (18.50); 8. Maggie Ewen (US) 58-10 (17.93); 9. Jaida Ross (US) 58-4¾ (17.80).
DT: 1. Valarie Sion (US) 225-1 (68.60) (224-3, 225-1, 223-8, 220-11, 209-10, 217-10) (68.37, 68.60, 68.18, 67.34, 63.97, 66.40); 2. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 218-5 (66.57); 3. Lagi Tausaga (US) 216-2 (65.89); 4. Bin Feng (Chn) 210-5 (64.15); 5. Marike Steinacker (Ger) 203-10 (62.13); 6. Vanessa Kamga (Swe) 203-2 (61.93); 7. Shanice Craft (Ger) 203-0 (61.88); 8. Silinda Morales (Cub) 192-11 (58.81); 9. Cierra Jackson (US) 173-7 (52.90).
