Diamond League Stockholm: Keely Hodgkinson leads the PB but is beaten by Audrey Vero in the 800m.

Olympic 800m. Champion Keely Hodgkinson set a personal best at the Stockholm Diamond League but it was not enough to beat Audrey Wero.

The Swiss athlete stunned Hodgkinson with a time of one minute and 53.98 seconds – the third-fastest and fastest women’s 800m in the world this year.

Britain’s Hodgkinson was just behind in 1:54:33, with American Roisin Willis third in 1:57:56.

The 24-year-old Briton is targeting the world record this year. In February, he broke the world indoor record.

And although the fastest 800m from July 2024. Her time — 1:54.61 at the Diamond League meet in London — dropped more than a second off her previous best (1:56.64).

The 22-year-old set her pace in the first lap of 55.54 seconds and although Hodgkinson was beaten with 300m to go, she passed Vero in the home straight.

Hodgkinson in the 400m Thursday’s Diamond League meeting in Rome.

More to follow.