Keely Hodgkinson at the UK Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson got her 2026 campaign underway with a stunning world-leading run of 1:56.33 to win her 800m heat at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham on Saturday (14).
The world bronze medallist, competing for the first time since October last year, was using this weekend as a tune-up ahead of her appearance at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin next week, where she’s targeting an even faster time.
Running solo, Hodgkinson passed through 200m in 27.36 and reached half-way in 56.28. She maintained that pace through 600m (1:26.11) and continued stretching away to win in 1:56.33.
She took almost a second off her own British short track record (1:57.18) and moved to third on the world short track all-time list.
“I’m in really good shape at the moment and I've seen in training I am,” said Hodgkinson, who had a delayed start to her 2025 season due to injury. “We have some high hopes for the next couple of weeks for the indoors.
“I’ve had my healthiest winter for years. I’m not taking any of it for granted to be honest. It was so frustrating being on the sidelines for such a long time. I’m just happy to be able to do an indoor season and have nothing holding me back.”
Elsewhere in Birmingham, Dina Asher-Smith was a clear winner of the women’s 60m, clocking a championship record of 7.05 – just 0.02 behind her own British record. World 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt was second in 7.15.
World indoor champion Jeremiah Azu took the men’s title in 6.56.
Molly Caudery, the 2024 world indoor champion, opened her season by winning the women’s pole vault with 4.65m.
Azu completed a sprint double by winning the 200m in an outright PB of 20.77 on Sunday (15).
The women’s final was won by Renee Regis in 22.95, a performance that followed her championship record of 22.89 in the semifinals. One of the longest standing championship records, the mark had stood at 23.07 since 1990 when Merlene Ottey raced as a guest.
“I didn’t expect to run that fast in the semifinal. My coaches told me to hit it and commit, so that’s exactly what I did,” said Regis, who was presented with her gold medal by her father John Regis, the 1989 world indoor 200m champion.
“It was quite funny to see my dad was presenting me with the medal. He didn’t tell me he was doing it, but it was a really nice moment.”
Hannah Nuttall also set a championship record when winning the 3000m in 8:41.75, improving on Jo Pavey’s 24-year-old mark. Thomas Keen pipped Henry McLuckie to the men’s title, 7:51.68 to 7:51.70.
Yemi Mary John won the 400m in 51.69 ahead of Louisa Stoney and world indoor champion Amber Anning, who both clocked 51.83.
Isabelle Boffey won the 800m in 1:59.64, while 2024 world indoor 800m silver medallist Jemma Reekie clinched the 1500m title in 4:26.26 and Jack Higgins ran a championship record of 3:38.12 in the men’s final. The 2023 world bronze medallist Ben Pattison secured a commanding victory in the men’s 800m in 1:46.74.
Scott Lincoln claimed a record 10th British indoor title in the men’s shot put with a sixth round best of 20.80m.
Rojas jumps 14.95m
Venezuela's four-time world triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas set a world lead of 14.95m – her best leap since 2023 – at the Spanish Indoor Clubs Championships in Valencia on Saturday (14).
That result came from her first attempt and she backed it up with a jump of 14.43m.
Liadagmis Povea finished second with 13.96m.
Schilder sets world shot put lead
World shot put champion Jessica Schilder threw a world-leading 20.49m at the Atletiekunie Indoor Special in Apeldoorn on Friday (13).
Back at the venue where she won her European indoor title with an outright Dutch record of 20.69m, she this time achieved the second-best throw of her career.
Jorinde Van Klinken was second with 18.14m.
Succo improves to 8.05
Alessia Succo, who turned 17 earlier this month, already sat at the top of the world U18 60m hurdles all-time list on 8.07 but she improved again to 8.05 at the Italian Indoor U18 Championships in Ancona on Sunday (15).
Also among the winners was double European U20 champion Kelly Doualla, who ran 7.27 in the 60m.
