British Olympic trials: Keely Hodgkinson beats Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir to claim 800m spot
- Published
Teenager Keely Hodgkinson says she is relishing taking on the world's best after upsetting Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir to secure an 800m Olympic spot.
The 19-year-old European Indoor champion tracked Muir's break before picking off Reekie to win the British title in one minute 59.61 seconds.
"I was a little bit of an underdog but the championship environment is something I thrive off," she said.
"Every athlete aims to make the final and I'll be the same."
Muir, beaten to second by Reekie, will discover on Tuesday if she is selected for the 800m-1500m double in Japan.
"I know that doesn't give me an automatic place but I hope I have done enough." said Muir.
"It wasn't a great race tactically for me but it is what it is. It wasn't smart and you can't afford that with the calibre of these girls."
Hodgkinson, whose rapid rise included breaking the world under-20 record in January, has been tipped by mentor and former world 800m medallist Jenny Meadows to break Dame Kelly Holmes' 1995 national record of 1:56.21.
The Wigan athlete's win showed composure to go with outright speed as she stalked down the two favourites after a slow first lap to win by more than half a second.
Elliot Giles prevailed in a far closer finish in the men's race, beating European junior champion Oliver Dustin by one hundredth of a second, in 1:45.11. Daniel Rowden, the 2020 champion, was third in 1:45.14 and may have done enough to convince the selectors to include him alongside the first two in their Olympic selection.
Day three coverage - relive the action
Day two report - Asher-Smith & Ujah claim 100m titles
Day one report - Farah falls short in Tokyo qualification bid
'What matters is Tokyo' - Gemili and Williams win 200m titles
Adam Gemili, who finished a tight fourth in the last world and Olympic finals, will have another shot at a first major individual medal after winning the 200m in 20.63 seconds ahead of Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, who lacks the time for automatic selection.
"It wasn't spectacularly quick, especially given the times around the world, but it's not about that here," said Gemili.
"It's about making the team and what matters is Tokyo."
Zharnel Hughes, who was disqualified from the 100m for a false start on Saturday, took advantage of the rule allowing those doubling up to sit out their second event and will have a strong claim to an Olympic place after running a personal best of 19.93 in May.
Jodie Williams, who won the 400m title on Sunday, completed a sprint double with 200m victory in 23.02 ahead of Beth Dobbin in 23.07 as both booked their places.
"I wanted to come out here and prove some things, mainly to myself," said Williams. "This was a lesson about grit. Hopefully I've shown that."
World champion Dina Asher-Smith, who won the 100m title on Saturday, sat out the longer event but her inclusion will be a formality when the selectors meet on Monday.
Next stop Tokyo
Tiffany Porter, 33, beat younger sister Cindy Sember in the 100m hurdles, coming home in 12.78 seconds. Sember finished third behind Alicia Barrett, but is likely to earn her place in Tokyo as the only other athlete to have achieved the Olympic qualification time.
Jazmin Sawyers defended her long jump title with a best of 6.75m to secure her seat on the plane along with second-placed Abigail Irozuru. Lorraine Ugen, who has jumped further than either this season, was third and may well be added to the Olympic team.
Shara Proctor, former world silver medallist, pulled out of the event earlier in the weekend announcing that injury had brought her season to an early end.
Morgan Lake, 24, will go to her second Olympics after winning her sixth straight national high jump title with a 1.93m clearance.
Jessica Judd, who qualified in the 10,000m earlier this month, will have the option of doubling up in Japan after winning the 5,000m in 15:10.02.
Taylor Campbell, 11th in the world this year, won the hammer with 75.10m to secure his Olympic spot with rival Nick Miller absent after being granted a medical exemption.
Harry Coppell, who set a new British record on the same stage last year, booked his Tokyo spot with pole vault victory in 5.70m.
The decisions facing the selectors
Hughes was the most impressive man in the 100m semi-finals and is the fastest Briton over 200m this year, but after not running in either final this weekend, leaves the selectors with an element of doubt.
Hughes' disqualification in the 100m in Manchester is not the first controversy he has been involved in in in a final either. The 25-year-old was stripped of 200m gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 after accidentally making contact with a rival in the closing stages.
After winning the 200m title, Gemili hinted that he would throw his hat into the ring for the 100m selection. He holds a qualifying standard having run 10.04 in July 2019 and, with Reece Prescod short of his form of early 2019 and out of contention, there may be room for his long experience in the shortest event.
Muir hopes to have done enough to convince the selectors to pick her for the 800m as well as the 1500m. It may be she has to win over coach Andy Young as well.
Together he and Muir might decide to concentrate their efforts on the 1500m, where Muir has secured top-five finishes in the last three World Championship finals, rather than risk spreading herself too thinly by taking on both events.
The team will be revealed at 11:00 BST on Tuesday.