Keely Hodgkinson withdraws from UK Championships 400m final ahead of summer world‑record push

British Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the women’s 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham just minutes before the gun. She said she was not feeling “100 percent” and chose to protect herself ahead of a summer campaign aimed at challenging the 800m world record.

The withdrawal opened the race for Amber Anning, who set a championship record of 50.16 seconds to win. In the 800m, Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell recorded a championship‑record 1:55.93, putting the world‑record conversation into focus. The championships at Alexander Stadium also serve as selection for the upcoming European Athletics Championships.

Hodgkinson’s decision reflects careful load‑management after injury‑disrupted seasons, with key upcoming meets including the Prefontaine Classic, the London Diamond League and the target 800m world‑record attempt.