Keely Hodgkinson pulls out of UK 400m final to protect summer targets

Keely Hodgkinson pulls out of UK 400m final to protect summer targets

Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400 metres final at the UK Athletics Championships on Sunday, citing precautionary concerns ahead of her world record tilt and major summer targets. The 24-year-old, who won 800m gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024, withdrew minutes before the race despite running in the heats on Saturday.

What happened?

Hodgkinson looked visibly upset on the trackside before being led off. Sources close to her camp confirmed she was not injured but felt tightness, opting to step away as a precaution. She posted on Instagram: “Leaving champs healthy. Sometimes the hard decision is saying no, body wasn’t feeling 100, exciting summer ahead, love xx.”

Her absence left Amber Anning to win the 400m in 50.16, a championship record. Zharnel Hughes also set a 200m record in 20.04, while Jake Wightman claimed the 800m title.

Why it matters for Keely Hodgkinson

Hodgkinson’s 400m outing aimed to sharpen her speed, but two fast races in two days carried risk. She has battled hamstring and back issues before, including a world indoor record attempt in Birmingham in February 2025 that collapsed in training. That sparked a difficult summer of further injuries.

Her team brought in extra precautions this winter. A dedicated trackside physio now checks her before, during and after sessions. Hodgkinson has also boosted strength work and swapped easy runs for road cycling with training partner Georgia Hunter-Bell.

Those changes paid off in February and March. She smashed the world indoor record by over a second and won the world title in a championship record time. In Stockholm earlier this month, she ran 1:54.33: the sixth fastest time ever: though Switzerland’s Audrey Werro still beat her.

What comes next?

Both women now target Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 43-year-old outdoor 800m record of 1:53.28. That mark could fall at July’s Diamond League meet in London. Hunter-Bell, who trains with Hodgkinson, is also in the mix after running 1:55.93 to break Kelly Holmes’ British Championship record on Sunday.

Hodgkinson remains focused on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham. Her coach Trevor Painter and former athlete Jenny Meadows have tightened her programme to avoid repeat setbacks.

Hunter-Bell said: “I’ve only just found out. We were warming up together and she looked amazing. She knows she’s in really good shape.”