Audrey Werro won the women's 800m race at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 6, clocking a time of 1:53.98, the third fastest women's 800m ever and the fastest in the world this year [1, 2]. The 22-year-old improved her personal best by more than a second, lowering it from 1:56.64 to 1:53.98 [1, 2].
Keely Hodgkinson, 24, finished second with a personal best and British record of 1:54.33, narrowly beaten by Werro [1, 2]. Hodgkinson led the race with 300 meters remaining but was overtaken by Werro just after the final turn [1, 2]. American Roisin Willis took third place with a time of 1:57.56 [1].
The race was paced aggressively, with a first lap split of 55.54 seconds [1, 2]. Werro’s time ranks behind only Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 world record of 1:53.28 and Nadezhda Olizarenko’s 1980 time of 1:53.43 [2]. Hodgkinson’s 1:54.33 places her sixth on the all-time women's 800m list [2].
Hodgkinson set the women’s 800m indoor world record in February 2026 and had competed in a 400m race at the Rome Diamond League days before the Stockholm event [1, 2]. Despite the loss, Hodgkinson remains optimistic about her goals. She said, "Honestly, I’m not that disappointed... the world record is still my goal in London next month, I still believe I can do it" [2]. She plans to focus more on 800m-specific training aiming for a world record attempt at the London Diamond League in July 2026 [2].
Werro expressed surprise and confidence after her win, stating, "I am still in shock. It’s really crazy. Now I believe the world record can fall this year" [2].
Before the Stockholm race, Hodgkinson had run the 400m at the Rome Diamond League on June 4 or 5 [1]. The next major event for the two athletes is the London Diamond League in July, where Hodgkinson hopes to challenge the outdoor 800m world record [2].
