Keeley Hodgkinson won the 800m to end her injury-hampered season on a high at the Athlos women's meet in New York. Great Britain's Olympic champion dominated the field in her signature event, finishing in 1:56.53 in just her sixth race this season after missing months of competition due to injury earlier this year.
Fellow British and world silver medalist Georgia Hunter Bell finished second in 1:58.33 on Friday night in front of a packed Icahn Stadium. St. Vincent's Shafiqa Maloney was third in 1:58.57.
“I haven't raced much this season so it was probably easier for me to go out and want to give something,” said Hodgkinson, who won a bronze medal at last month's world championships in Tokyo after her campaign was marred by a hamstring injury. “The atmosphere there is crazy, so it was really, really fun.”
American Brittany Brown, bronze medalist in the 200m at last year's Paris Olympics, surprised herself with a double in the sprint. Brown charged ahead at halfway and held on through the final meters to win the 100m in 10.99 seconds, beating compatriot Jaycees Sears by just two hundredths of a second, with Kayla White (11.22) in third.
Brown returned to the track an hour later, dominating the longer sprint with a personal best of 21.89, beating her compatriot Anavia Battle (22.21) and Ivorian Marie-Josie Ta Lou-Smith (22.65). “I was most shocked in the 100 meters. [win] because it was only my second 100m of the year,” said Brown, who missed several months of training after laparoscopic surgery in December.
Only the women's competition is already in full swing. second year bringing a party atmosphere to a traditional track, with live music and Tiffany & Co crowns replacing the traditional winners' medals. 23-time tennis major winner Serena Williams, who is married to Atlos founder Alexis Ohanian, was on hand to present the winners with their crowns, adding a classy shine to the event.
Some of the sport's biggest names were also in attendance, with Kenya's three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon winning the mile, finishing in 4:17.78. She finished nearly two seconds faster than Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay, with American Nikki Hiltz third in 4:32.51.
Olympic champion Masai Russell took the lead over two hurdles to win the 100m hurdles in 12.52, ending the season on a positive note after a disappointing fourth place last month in Tokyo. Her American compatriot Grace Stark, who won bronze at the world championships, finished second in 12.60, while Alaysha Johnson (12.66) was third.
Paris Games gold medalist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic overcame the final straight to win the 400m in 50.07, with Britain's Amber Anning finishing sixth in 52.86. Reigning Olympic and world champion Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump with a score of 7.13m.
