Star Metro - Hodgkinson storms to world indoor 800m gold

In a gun-to-tape performance, the 24-year-old world indoor record holder clocked a winning time of 1min 55.30sec in the four-lap race.

Her time was not only a championship record but also the second fastest time run over the distance indoors.

Switzerland's Audrey Werro took silver in a national record of 1:56.64, with American Addison Wiley claiming bronze (1:58.36).

"It feels so, so nice being able to run and win," Hodgkinson said. "This is my first world title.

"I have been in so many finals, I have been a favourite so many times and I had not won so to do that and prove to myself that I can do it, remove the pressure and win the gold, it's nice."

- Fast lap -

Starting in the outside lane six, Hodgkinson covered the opening 200m in 27.24sec as she immediately moved to the front of the pack.

Tracked by Ethiopian Nigist Getachew, the Briton went through 400m at pace, in 56.96sec, the pack already split and struggling with her speed.

She refused to let up, building up a lead on her rivals through the bell for the final 200m lap.

Getachew was dropped but Werro fired down the back stretch in a desperate bid to make up some ground, but it was all too little too late as Hodgkinson sped through the line in elation.

Hodgkinson, who set a new indoor 800m world record of 1:54.87sec last month and said Thursday she would have been "quite happy" had the outdoor season already kicked off, announced her full return to global competition in some style after months on the sidelines in rehab for knee and hamstring injuries.

Untimely injuries have prevented the Briton from taking part in the past three editions of the world indoors.

But Hodgkinson, who earned Tokyo Olympic silver and Paris Olympic gold and who has two world outdoor silver medals and a bronze, touched down in Poland in perfect shape and more than demonstrated that.

Hodgkinson was immediately enveloped by training partner Georgia Hunter Bell, who had won the 1,500m just minutes before the 800m took place.

"I have an amazing training group. Me and Georgia, we work hard and we push each other at every practice - we are both in the shape of our lives," Hodgkinson said.

"It's great to have someone who can challenge me in training. I am really grateful for our friendship, our rivalry and our training."

All eyes will now turn on Hodgkinson's plans for the outdoor season.

Given her new world indoor record, there is the mouth-watering possibility of her going after the oldest world record in athletics -- the 1min 53.28sec for the outdoor 800m set by Jarmila Kratochvilova of the then-Czechoslovakia in 1983.

Werro was left delighted with her silver medal.

"It is amazing to win a medal here as well as set a national record," she said.

"It is one of the best races of my career. I am especially happy because I missed a lot of medals by small margins last year."

M.Anderson--SMC