Keely Hodgkinson lowered her personal best and British record with a brilliant performance in the 800 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Paris.
Hodgkinson followed the pacemaker before striking for home 300m from the line, eventually clocking a time of one minute 55.77 seconds, taking 0.11secs off her previous best set in winning Olympic silver in Tokyo.
“I am a little bit shocked that I ran so fast,” the 21-year-old said. “Paris next year, I will definitely be back.
“The weather was really nice, so warm. I had heard good things about the track. With this full stadium and the great crowd, it was amazing. I am so happy.
“Now the aim is to stay healthy, we still have to see, I want to keep running fast. The focus is on the summer, on Budapest (the World Championships).
“What is next with such a fast time early in the season? Well, I do not know. Hopefully I will run even faster.”
Hodgkinson’s record-breaking run came just half an hour after Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen smashed the two-mile world record by more than four seconds.
Ingebrigtsen left the field trailing in his wake as he recorded a time of seven minutes, 54.10 seconds.
The previous mark was set by Daniel Komen in 1997, three years before Olympic 1,500 metre champion Ingebrigtsen was born.
Records continued to tumble as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon set a new world’s best for the 5,000m, just a week after doing the same in the 1,500m in Florence.
Kipyegon produced a blistering last lap to pull away from Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey and clock a time of 14:05.20, taking almost a second and a half off Gidey’s previous mark.
The ideal conditions helped produce another world record in the penultimate event of the evening, Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma taking more than a second off the previous mark with a time of 7:52.11 in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Olympic champion Julien Alfred gifted EC$1 million, highway to be renamed, monument to be erected in her honour
In a historic celebration of her unprecedented achievements, St. Lucia’s Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred was honoured with a series of prestigious awards and accolades on Friday, September 27, officially designated as 'Julien Alfred Day.' The island nation’s government and its people came together to pay tribute to the 22-year-old sprint sensation, who has made history and brought immense pride to St. Lucia on the global stage.
The government, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, announced several significant honours for Alfred during a celebratory event on Friday night. Among the most notable was the announcement that the Millennium Highway would be renamed the Julien Alfred Highway. In addition, a monument will be constructed in her honour at the new Cul de Sac Roundabout, ensuring that her legacy will be a lasting part of St. Lucia’s infrastructure.
Alfred will also receive a government gift of EC$1 million, as well as a plot of land of her choice, measuring 10,720 square feet. Furthermore, the prime minister revealed plans for a Julien Alfred commemorative stamp and a commemorative exercise book featuring photos of the Olympic champion, cementing her place in the nation’s history.
These grand gestures came after a whirlwind year for Alfred, who became the first St. Lucian to win a medal at the Olympic Games. She captured gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, further solidifying her status as a national hero. Earlier in the year, she won the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and she recently capped her outstanding season by winning the 100m Diamond League title in Brussels.
The day of festivities began with Alfred receiving a special award from George Pagoulatos, the Greek Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, added symbolic weight to the award, further emphasizing Alfred’s status among the world’s elite athletes.
Following this presentation, Alfred was honored by the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) with a cash award of EC$75,000, a token of appreciation for her historic achievements and the pride she has brought to her country.
These latest honours follow a private dinner held Thursday night, hosted by the BodyHoliday Resort and First National Bank, where family and friends celebrated her remarkable success.
The day-long celebrations culminated in a special concert on Friday night, where fans, dignitaries, and fellow athletes gathered to celebrate Alfred’s achievements. The emotional occasion saw Alfred express heartfelt gratitude to the people of St. Lucia for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
The event also marked a defining moment in St. Lucia’s sporting history, as the island nation rallied around its Olympic hero, who was also named St Lucia's Tourism Ambassador
As Julien Alfred’s star continues to rise, 'Julien Alfred Day' will be remembered as a historic celebration of one of St. Lucia’s greatest sporting icons.
Julien Alfred honoured with special award and cash prize on 'Julien Alfred Day' in St. Lucia
Julien Alfred’s whirlwind year of achievements was celebrated in grand style on Friday, designated as ‘Julien Alfred Day’ in her home country of St. Lucia. The Olympic gold and silver medalist, who has enjoyed a stellar first year as a professional athlete, received a special award and a cash prize in recognition of her historic accomplishments.
The 22-year-old sprint star has had an unforgettable year. After winning the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, she cemented her place in history with a gold medal in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first St. Lucian to win an Olympic medal. She followed that performance with a silver in the 200m, further solidifying her status as a national hero. Alfred capped her remarkable season by winning the prestigious 100m Diamond League title in Brussels earlier this month.
On Friday morning, the celebrations continued with a special award presented by George Pagoulatos, the Greek Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The presentation held extra significance, as Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, making the moment a symbolic recognition of Alfred’s place among the world’s elite athletes.
Following the ambassador's presentation, Alfred was then honoured by the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) with a cash prize of EC$75,000, a token of appreciation for her historic feats on the global stage. The financial award was a gesture of gratitude for the pride and joy she has brought to St. Lucia.
These latest tributes came on the heels of a private dinner held in her honour on Wednesday night, hosted by the BodyHoliday Resort and First National Bank, where family and friends gathered to celebrate her unprecedented achievements.
The day of celebrations will be capped off with a special concert on Friday night, where fans, dignitaries, and fellow athletes came together to honour Alfred’s achievements in music and entertainment. It was an emotional moment for Alfred, who expressed her gratitude to the people of St. Lucia for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
The sprint sensation has made history for her small island nation, and with her star continuing to rise, 'Julien Alfred Day' will no doubt be remembered as a significant moment in St. Lucia’s sporting history.
Shiann Salmon returns to her roots to rediscover her best with stunning win in Zurich
Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon has rediscovered her best form after returning to train at home, and it’s paying off in spectacular fashion. Salmon, who has been a consistent force in the 400m hurdles this season, clocked a lifetime best of 52.97 seconds to win her first-ever Diamond League race in Zurich last Friday. This remarkable achievement not only secured her spot among the elite but also marked a significant personal milestone, as she became just the fifth Jamaican woman in history to break the 53-second barrier in the event.
After graduating from Hydel High and spending a year at GC Foster College, Salmon ventured overseas to train with Tonja Buford, a US Olympic medalist turned coach. However, after a few seasons in the United States, Salmon felt the American environment was making her "soft" and unmotivated, which led to her bold decision last season to return to Jamaica to train under renowned coach Maurice Wilson at the Sprintec Track Club.
“I don’t feel as if I ever needed to ‘justify’ doing something that I felt was for my best interest. However, I felt like the American lifestyle/system was never meant for me. I think I got a bit complacent and soft, so I returned to my roots,” Salmon explained.
That decision has clearly paid off. Salmon has shown remarkable consistency this season, first setting a lifetime best of 53.13 in the Olympic final in Paris and consistently racing close to that mark in the lead-up to Zurich. But in Zurich, she finally broke through the elusive 53-second barrier, achieving her goal for the season.
“I was thrilled. My overall aim for the remainder of the season was to break the 53 seconds barrier, so I was beyond happy when I realized that I had done so,” Salmon said. “I’m currently the fifth Jamaican woman to do so. I feel exhilarated, top 5 all-time is a big accomplishment and I’m grateful.”
Reflecting on her performances before Zurich, Salmon felt her breakthrough was imminent. “Yes, I definitely felt it coming. My body is now used to running low 53s. My coach and I already predicted it, it was just a matter of me executing the races properly,” she shared.
Only four other Jamaican women—Deon Hemmings, Melaine Walker, Kaliese Spencer, and Rushell Clayton—have ever broken the 53-second mark in the 400m hurdles. Now, Salmon joins that exclusive club, cementing her status as one of the best in the world.
Looking ahead, Salmon is focused on finishing her season on a high. She will contest the Diamond League final in Brussels, with her sights set on another sub-53 performance. “My ultimate aim is to finish the season with another 52 performance. Anything else that comes with that is a bonus,” Salmon concluded.
With her decision to return to Jamaica proving to be the right move, Salmon’s resurgence has her poised to continue breaking barriers and reaching new heights in the 400m hurdles.
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