European champion Audrey Werro came close to breaking the 800m world record at the Zurich Diamond League meet on Thursday, finishing just over four tenths of a second shy of Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1983 mark. Werro clocked a time of 1:55.10, falling short of the 1:53.28 record.
Another notable performance came from Femke Broeders-Bol, the world 400m hurdles champion who has transitioned to the 800m this season. Broeders-Bol set a new Dutch national record with a time of 1:54.71, securing second place and surpassing Keely Hodgkinson's training partner and Commonwealth 800m champion Georgia Hunter-Bell, who finished third in 1:55.03.
Broeders-Bol expressed surprise at her rapid progress in the event, stating she had not expected to reach times in the 1:54 range within her debut season. Her performance demonstrates a quick adaptation to middle-distance racing.
The emergence of rivals like Werro and Broeders-Bol presents a new challenge for Keely Hodgkinson, who had aimed to dominate the 800m following the departure of Athing Mu-Nikolayev from the scene after the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Eugene World Championships. With the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, Hodgkinson faces increasing competition.
Despite Werro's near miss on the world record, the Zurich event saw two new world records set across various disciplines. Werro, Broeders-Bol, and Hodgkinson have all qualified for the Diamond League final in Brussels, scheduled for September 4-5, which could serve as a significant benchmark for the end of the season.