These World Athletics Championships witnessed another shock on Sunday as Keely Hodgkinson, Britain’s Olympic 800m champion, had to settle for bronze after a thrilling three-way shootout down the final straight.
In front of her – just – was her teammate and training partner, Georgia Hunter Bell, who took silver. It was the first time since 2007, when Christina Ohuruogu won the 400m ahead of Nicola Sanders, that two Britons had made the podium in the same world championship race.
But neither had an answer to the unheralded Kenyan Lilian Odira, who came wide and swooped late to win in 1min 54.62 sec, a personal best by nearly two seconds. The 26-year-old Odira was ranked 17th in the world before this race. Now, incredibly, she is world champion.
Hodgkinson ran hugely creditably, and her time of 1:54.91 was her third fastest ever. But she surely felt the effects of having to run three times in four days, after missing more than a year of racing because of three hamstring injuries.
Kenya’s Lilian Odira poses with her gold medal after victory in the women’s 800m final. Photograph: Matthias Schräder/AP
“I thought I had it” said Hodgkinson, who was leading as she came into the home straight. “I didn’t feel Odira coming. I did my best to hang on, but the legs didn’t quite have it. It’s been a really difficult here but I’ve made the podium and that’s something to be proud of.”
Hunter Bell, meanwhile, was understandably delighted to take silver, in 1:54.90 – a personal best by nearly a second. The 31-year-old said: “I’m so happy. I’m looking forward to a break.”
The race was a burn-up from the start, with another Kenyan, Mary Moraa, going through the first 200m in 26.46 and through 400m in 55.73. Hodgkinson was right beside her but as the race entered the final straight she began to tire, and neither she nor Hunter Bell had an answer when Odira struck for glory.
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