Keely Hodgkinson ran a huge personal best to win the London Diamond League and become the sixth fastest women in history over 800m.
Hodgkinson’s time of 1:54.61 was also a British record and the best time in the world this year, and cemented her status as the women to beat at the Paris Olympic Games, which open on Friday.
She led throughout the race and streaked away from fellow Briton Jemma Reekie in the final 100m, with Georgia Bell coming in third to complete a British one-two-three. Both Reekie and Bell also recorded personal bests.
Hodgkinson glanced at the clock as she crossed the line and smothered her face with her hands in shock at her achievement.
“I felt really good today, I just wanted to go for it and see what was there,” she told the BBC. “It was a little bit of bravery and fearlessness with a great atmosphere like this, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity.
“It’s so nice when you’re walking through and you hear people shouting your name. The Brits know how to put on an athletics meet, I wish there were more in this country because it’s the best crowd I’ve ever run in front of.
“I’m feeling really good and confident ahead of Paris. Obviously the main aim is just to get to the final first and then once we’re there we can discuss getting medals.”
Matt Hudson-Smith set another British record and another world lead time as he won the men’s 400m in 43.74s, laying down a huge marker ahead of Paris.
“It was an amazing crowd, it’s always good to perform in front of them and it’s a great send off,” Hudson-Smith said. “It’s a long time coming and I’m actually healthy. Now I’m putting in a lot of work. The proof is in the pudding. I’m excited.”
Olympic favourite Noah Lyles came from behind to comfortably win the men’s 100m, after Dina Asher-Smith had finished third in the women’s 200m, won by the fast-finishing American Gabby Thomas.
Lyles has developed into the biggest personality in athletics and, having taken the 100m world title in Budapest last year to add to three, and an Olympic bronze, over the 200m, he is becoming the man to beat in the blue riband event.
“That was fun,” he said after running a personal best time of 9.81s. “I could have had a better start. I wanted a faster time but I had the wind.”
South African Akani Simbini took second in 9.86 and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was third in 9.88 as the first five broke 10 seconds.
Briton’s rising sprint star Louie Hinchliffe finished fourth. “I’m not happy with the result but it’s not bad, it wasn’t my worst run,” the 22-year-old said. “I can work on the start, I looked well out of it. Maybe some nerves, it’s my first time here. I’ve got some way to go.”
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce also looked very impressive in running a world-leading time of 48.57s to win the women’s 400m, while Femke Bol of the Netherlands easily won the women’s 400m hurdles in 51.30s, cementing her status as another gold-medal contender in Paris.
The 24-year-old world champion, who won bronze in Tokyo, dominated the race from the start and sent a message to biggest rival Sydney McLaughlin as the pair prepare to square off in one of the most eagerly-anticipated Olympic showdowns.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Brazil’s former world champion Alison dos Santos won in 47.18s, while Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri caused a surprise in the shot put, throwing 22.52m to beat heavy favourite Ryan Crouser of the USA.
Britain’s Molly Caudery finished third in the pole vault competition, having won world indoor gold earlier this year. “I am a little bit disappointed, I feel like it was a lost opportunity,” she said. “I’m kicking myself. [But] it’s not the place where it matters too much and I’m looking forward to Paris.”
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