Audrey Werro Moves Closer to Breaking 800m World Record, Sets Third-Fastest Time in History
Swiss athlete Werro runs 1:53.80 in Paris, nearing Jarmila Kratochvilova's 40-year record; Keely Hodgkinson and Werro poised for record showdown at European Championships
Quick Look
- Audrey Werro ran the third-fastest 800m in history (1:53.80) in Paris, closing in on Jarmila Kratochvilova's 40-year world record.
- Werro will next face Britain's Keely Hodgkinson at the European Championships in August, setting the stage for a potential record-breaking clash.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Jarmila Kratochvilova's 800m world record has stood since 1983. Recent performances by Audrey Werro and Keely Hodgkinson suggest a potential record break.
Audrey Werro moved closer to breaking the 40-year-old 800m world record by running the third-fastest time in history (1:53.80) in Paris. Werro’s performance sets up a potential record-breaking showdown with Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson at the European Championships in August.
Werro, tracking pacemaker Myrte van der Schoot, finished in 1:53.80, just outside world-record pace but quicker than her recent win over Hodgkinson in Stockholm. Hodgkinson believes she can break the record in London next month.
The men’s 1500m saw Cameron Myers smash a national record (3:28.00), while Noah Lyles suffered a surprise 100m defeat to Trayvon Bromell. Georgia Hunter Bell won the women’s 1500m in a season’s best (3:55.63).
Werro will not race the 800m again until facing Hodgkinson in Birmingham, promising a significant clash with medals and potentially more on the line.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Audrey Werro or Keely Hodgkinson will break the 800m world record by the end of 2024.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Will Werro or Hodgkinson break the record first?
- How will the European Championships impact the record attempt?
