EUGENE – Athing Mu held off a fierce late challenge from Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson to add World Athletics Championships 800m gold to her Tokyo Olympic crown today.
The 20-year-old American star was forced to dig deep to hold off Hodgkinson in a thrilling battle down the final straight at Eugene’s Hayward Field before taking gold in a world-leading 1:56:30.
Hodgkinson, who took silver behind Mu at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, finished second once again in 1:56.38, while Kenya’s Mary Moraa took bronze in 1:56.71.
“Today was kind of a rough day for me,” Mu said afterwards. “I’m just glad I made it to the line to finish the race, and thankfully I won gold. I just physically wasn’t where I would like to be.
“I didn’t feel my best and so I knew it was going to be a little tough. I was just determined to leave everything out on the track.”
Mu has been invincible since bursting onto the international scene as a teenager last year, capturing gold medals in the 800m and 4x400m relay at the Tokyo Olympics.
The main question heading into this year’s World Championships was whether Britain’s Hodgkinson, also only 20, could make enough of an improvement to threaten the American star.
In a tense final today, Mu hit the front on the final lap and looked to be in complete control as she edged clear on the final bend.
But she allowed Hodgkinson a glimmer of daylight on the inside and the British runner rallied furiously as the finish line approached.
Mu, however, was equal to the challenge and held on to become the first American woman to win a world 800m title.
“I love competing against other fast women,” Mu said. “I really just wanted to be consistent this year and to continue with the wins that I have been having.
“The next goal is just to continue competing and hopefully to get faster and faster.”
Hodgkinson meanwhile is already looking forward to future battles with Mu following today’s classic, with one eye on next year’s World Championships and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“I thought I could get her in the last 100m,” Hodgkinson said. “I got so close, but it is what it is. I am proud of myself for giving myself a chance out there.
“Athing is a great athlete. We are both 20 and have many years ahead of us. We’ll meet on a world podium again.” – AFP, July 25, 2022
