Track Star Audrey Werro Edges Closer in Duel with Keely Hodgkinson to Break 43-Year Record in 800
The Swiss runner’s 1:53.80 in Paris is the fastest 800m time since 1983 and moves her within reach of Jarmila Kratochvílová’s record.
- On Sunday in Paris, Swiss runner Audrey Werro clocked 1 minute, 53.80 seconds in the 800-meters, marking the third-fastest time in history and the fastest performance since 1983.
- Focusing entirely on her sport without school distractions, Werro credits professional training and recovery for her rapid progress this season. "I am no longer at school, and I must say it was tough to juggle both," she said Sunday.
- Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson remains Werro's primary rival in the record chase, with Hodgkinson having set a 1:54.87 indoor world record in February. Werro told reporters trackside: "It's really very, very close."
- Hodgkinson targets the Diamond League meeting in London on July 18 for a record attempt, while Werro anticipates home advantage at Athletissima in Lausanne on Aug 21. Both races shape the rivalry's trajectory.
- A standout rematch between Werro and Hodgkinson is scheduled for the European Championships, where Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol may also compete after switching from the 400 hurdles to the 800-meters.
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Associated Press News
Track star Audrey Werro edges closer in duel with Keely Hodgkinson to break 43-year record in 800
Emerging track star Audrey Werro is racing closer to winning a duel with Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to break the sport’s oldest world record.
At the Diamond League stage of athletics in Paris, Armand Duplantis earned the expected victory in the men's pole vault, but this time no world record was set.
In her first official attempt to beat the oldest record in the world of athletics, Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1,53''28 on 800 meters, the 22-year-old Freiburger failed, but signed a stunning new chronoBest personal performance, best performance of the year, Swiss record, meeting record, Diamond League record. All this goes without saying when Audrey Werro crossed the finish line of an 800-metre race in a time she had never succeeded before.
Audrey Werro also succeeds in a spectacular performance in Paris, winning over 800 m in 1:53.80 minutes.
The eighth round of the 2026 Diamond League athletics took place in Paris, France, on Sunday evening.
In 1:53.28 Jarmila Kratochvilova set a new world record on 26 July 1983. He still holds. For almost 43 years. Even though he is now quite wobbly. Three weeks ago the 22-year-old Freiburg-based Audrey Werro ran 1:53.98 in Stockholm. Yesterday she improved to 1:53.80 in Paris. Thus she lacks only 52 hundredths of a second to the oldest world record of women's lightweight athletics. In the "eternal" best list she ranks third. Kratochvilova's world …
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