Keely Hodgkinson and her training partner, Georgia Hunter-Bell, will vie for an audacious British one-two over 800m at the World Athletics Championships after UK Athletics announced its team for Tokyo.
Hunter-Bell had faced the difficult decision over whether to run the 1500m, where she won bronze last year at the Paris Olympics, or the shorter distance. However, after much deliberation, her form over the 800m – including two Diamond League victories in Stockholm and London – and the lack of depth in the event has pushed her towards two laps.
Hodgkinson, who returned this month from a 376-day layoff to run the ninth fastest time in history, is by some distance Britain’s best chance of gold in Tokyo as she seeks to back up her Olympic title.
However there will be several other Britons with medal aspirations, including the Budapest 2023 world champions Josh Kerr and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the men’s 1500m and women’s heptathlon. Matthew Hudson-Smith will also be among the favourites in the men’s 400m.
Elsewhere George Mills, who broke Mo Farah’s British 5,000m record this summer, is selected after breaking his wrist in the London Diamond League. Emile Cairess, who came fourth in the Olympic marathon in Paris, also returns after injury forced him to miss the London marathon in April.
Paula Dunn, the performance director of UK Athletics, promised that the British team would rise to the occasion as they seek to emulate their record-equalling total of 10 medals from the world championships in Budapest two years ago.
“We are proud to announce such a strong team for Tokyo,” she said. “This squad combines proven global medallists with exciting emerging athletes, and we are confident they can build on our recent successes at the highest level.
“Our clear ambition is to convert world-class performances into medals, while also developing depth across events for the future. Tokyo will provide the perfect stage to demonstrate the strength of British athletics, and I know the athletes will rise to the occasion.”
