European 800m champion Audrey Werro has expressed confidence in her ability to challenge one of athletics' oldest and most controversial world records, the 1 minute 53.28 seconds set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983. The mark has stood for 43 years. Kratochvilova, representing then Czechoslovakia, has never failed a doping test, despite allegations of a systematic doping program in place in her country during her career. She has denied cheating.
Werro, 22, ran a personal best of 1:53.80 in Paris in June, moving her to third on the all-time list and within half a second of Kratochvilova's record. "Things have happened really fast," Werro stated on the eve of the Diamond League meeting in Zurich. "I was not prepared for a world record this year. I just want to focus on running fast and winning some races and I think with this mentality the world record will fall one day. But I don't know when."
A multiple title-winner at youth level, Werro has improved her personal best in each of her last eight seasons. This year, she has recorded three of the top 10 fastest times in the event's history, positioning her as a serious contender to break the long-standing record.