Keely Hodgkinson: Athlos 800m win in New York for British runner

Keely Hodgkinson wrapped up her 800-meter season with victory in the all-women’s Athlos meet in New York on Friday night.

The Olympic champion, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships last month, claimed an impressive victory in one minute 56.53 seconds in her sixth race of the season after suffering a hamstring injury.

British and world silver medalist Georgia Hunter Bell was second with a time of 1:58.33, while St Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney (1:58.57) was third.

“I’ve barely raced this season, so it’s probably been less of a challenge for me to just go out there and give something,” the 23-year-old Hodgkinson said.

“The atmosphere out there was crazy, so it was really fun.”

The women-only Icahn Stadium is in its second year with live music and a Tiffany & Co. event replacing the traditional winners’ medals. She brings a party atmosphere to the traditional runway with her crowns.

Serena Williams, a 23-time tennis champion who is married to Athlos founder Alexis Ohanian, was on hand to present the crowns to the winners.

Last year’s winners took home $60,000 (£44,603), one of the biggest prize purses in athletics.

The event also attracted some of the sport’s biggest names; Kenya’s three-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Faith Kipyegon won the mile, crossing the finish line in four hours 17.78 minutes.

American Brittany Brown, the 200-meter bronze medalist at last year’s Paris Olympics, won the 100-meter and 200-meter doubles.