by Keely Hodgkinson, a freshly named sporting personality of the year, revealed that she would try to break the world record for the 800 -meter on a short track during a new event “Keely Klassic” on February 15.
The current brand of 1: 55.82 was established by Slovenian Jolanda Ceplak on March 3, 2002 – the day of the birth of Hodgkinson.
The 800 -meter title Olympic champion announced the launch of the competition, which will take place at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, the day after the Spoty trophy presentation during a sumptuous ceremony during which her coaches, Trevor Painter And Jenny Meadows were appointed coach of the year.
“I am more than delighted to announce the Keely Klassic, my first track race since I became Olympic champion,” said Hodgkinson.
“This event aims to provide energy, passion and high -level sports to fans. It will be an unforgettable experience for all those involved, with the participation of some of the best athletes in the United Kingdom and a particular accent on the 800 m.
“I am also delighted to try to beat the world record. It is an opportunity for me to get my career to the higher level while giving back to the sport that brought me so much.”
Hodgkinson’s personal record on this distance is 1: 57.18, also a national record, established last February during the Birmingham World Tour final.
The 22 -year -old season ended prematurely after Paris when she suffered a “little injury”.
The Keely Klassic is officially recorded as a bronze level meeting of the World Athletics Indoor Tour and will take place the week preceding the British indoor championships in the same place.
A list of the event on the Utilita Arena website promises that the day will bring together “renowned British stars of athletics joining Keely to compete in various athletics disciplines” and will offer “a unique and immersive experience to fans ”.
Hodgkinson is not the only athlete – nor the Spoty winner – to organize an event during the tour of next year.
The Swedish poleur with the Swedish pole Armand Duplantis, world record holder, who won the world’s sports star of the year on Tuesday evening, will bring back his “worldly classic” pole jump gala at IFU Arena Uppsala for the fourth time in March.
