Jemma Reekie continues build up to Tokyo Olympics by winning the 800m at the World Indoor Tour, while Keely Hodgkinson finishes fourth
Jemma Reekie made a strong start to her Olympic season by winning the 800m at the World Indoor Tour meet in France on Tuesday night.
The Scot, whose 2020 campaign saw her clock the fastest 800m time in the world since 2006, broke away on the final lap in Lievin to win her first race of 2021 in 2:00.64.
While Reekie, 22, has emerged across the past year as one of Britain’s medal contenders for Tokyo, Tuesday’s meet pitted her against another talented domestic prospect at the distance, Keely Hodgkinson.
Jemma Reekie won the 800m at the World Indoor Tour meet in France on Tuesday night
Hodgkinson, 18, broke the world under-20 record in Vienna last month, but the teenager couldn’t match Reekie’s kick on the final lap in France and finished fourth. She clocked 2:01.71.
Elliot Giles won the men’s 800m in an impressive 1:45.49.
In the surprise of the evening, Laura Muir set a British indoors record in the 1500m but was heavily beaten in the 1500m by Gudaf Tsegay, who smashed Genzebe Dibaba’s indoor world record in 3:53.09.
Muir, the European champion indoors and out at the distance, was second in 3:59.58. Holly Bradshaw took the pole vault with 4.73m.