Keely Klassic: Keely Hodgkinson withdraws from 800m record attempt through injury

British Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has withdrawn from the "Keely Classic" scheduled for this Saturday in Birmingham due to a hamstring injury. Hodgkinson had originally planned to challenge the women's 800m indoor world record at the track and field event named after her.

Hodgkinson has not yet announced a specific recovery timeline, but it is understood that her goal remains to participate in the World Indoor Athletics Championships in March. This injury undoubtedly impacts her preparation plans, requiring adjustments to her training regimen.

"To be honest, I shed a tear when I got the news this afternoon," the 22-year-old said. "I've put in a huge amount of work for this moment and was in the best shape of my career. I am incredibly disappointed not to be able to compete for the fans, especially considering so many people have bought tickets hoping to see me attempt the world record." This setback is particularly disheartening given her dedication and peak performance.

The women's 800m indoor world record is currently held by Jolanda Čeplak, who set a time of 1:55.82 in 2002. Hodgkinson stated that despite being unable to compete, she will still travel to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham to meet with the audience. The injury occurred during her final training session before the competition, highlighting the unpredictable nature of sports.