ANTICIPATION RAN HIGH for the 800, as the big 3 came together for what many reckoned would be a final epic battle — at least for ’26. Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, still undefeated outdoors, said beforehand, “I’ve done everything I wanted to this season. Now it’s just about having fun, there’s no stress as I’ve done everything I wanted so now I just want to enjoy it.”
With no pacers or wavelights, few expected another 1:53 but no one ruled it out, either. “The main goal is to win so the race will be more tactical,” predicted Werro. “If it’s fast I’m also ready to be fast. We’ve all been able to just go faster and faster this season.”
After missing the DL Final Keely Hodgkinson rejoined the fight. She took the first heat in 1:57.57. Werro (1:59.05) and Femke Broeders-Bol (1:59.19) led the second.
Saturday’s final saw Broeders-Bol and Werro head immediately to the front, with Hodgkinson moving into the vacancy behind them. At 200, the leaders hit 27.37, but the pace eased into the realm of the tactical, and at halfway it was the young Swiss passing the post in a modest 57.83, followed by Broeders-Bol and Hodgkinson.
Despite the tempo, the three had no problem moving away from the other competitors on the backstretch. Werro led at 600 in 1:27.57, already accelerating toward home. Broeders-Bol tried to mount her own attack but looked tired. Off the last turn, as Werro widened her margin, Hodgkinson got past Broeders-Bol but could not catch the runaway leader.
Werro took the trophy in 1:55.88, with Hodgkinson at 1:56.26 and Broeders-Bol at 1:56.74. American Addy Wiley closed well for a season best 1:57.54 in 4th.
“I am just so happy with everything I’ve had and with the race I ran tonight,” said the victor. “I think it is really nice to be able to do something like that, I did everything I wanted to do, so I am really happy about that. It is really crazy but, at the same time, it is something I have worked for and now I am getting the result.”
Hodgkinson noted, “I am happy that we managed to make the women’s 800m interesting and that everyone wants to watch it. Hopefully next time I can be on top.”
And was the 2-time 400H world champion happy with her rookie season as an 800 runner? “Now I can say that I really love this event,” Broeders-Bol confessed.
“I’ve loved all this year even more than I expected. Maybe I’m a bit disappointed with the result tonight but, on the other hand, I have to ask ‘Why, what do I want?’ This 3rd-place means a lot. I was a little bit tired but I did a good job. Today was completely different than I thought it would be. But we learn as we go on and it’s a big discovery road, and I love discovering things.”
UC WOMEN’S 800 RESULTS
(September 12)
1. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:55.88
(27.37, 30.53 [57.83], 29.74 [1:27.57], 28.31) (57.83/57.97)
2. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:56.26
(28.91, 29.27 [58.18], 29.49 [1:27.67], 28.59) (58.18/58.08)
3. Femke Broeders-Bol (Neth) 1:56.74
(27.38, 30.54 [57.92], 29.73 [1:27.65], 29.09) (57.92/58.82)
4. Addy Wiley (US) 1:57.54
(27.68, 30.82 [58.50], 29.73 [1:28.23], 29.31) (58.50/59.04)
5. Valentina Rosamilia (Swi) 1:58.53
6. Eloisa Coiro (Ita) 1:58.59
7. Sarah Billings (Aus) 1:58.89
8. Nigist Getachew (Eth) 1:59.50
… dnc—Veronica Vancardo (Swi)
Heats (September 11)
I–1. Hodgkinson 1:57.57; 2. Wiley 1:58.14; 3. Billings 1:58.37; 4. Coiro 1:58.48; 5. Shafiqua Maloney (StV) 1:58.54; 6. Prudence Sekgodiso (SA) 1:59.66; 7. Roisin Willis (US) 2:00.11; 8. Veronica Vancardo (Swi) 2:16.75.
II–1. Werro 1:59.05; 2. Broeders-Bol 1:59.19; 3. Getachew 1:59.69; 4. Rosamilia 1:59.78; 5. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:59.86; 6. Oratile Nowe (Bot) 2:01.03; 7. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 2:01.45; 8. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 2:02.62.
