by Keely Hodgkinson, freshly named Sports Personality of the Year, has revealed she will attempt to break the 800 meter short track world record at a new ‘Keely Klassic’ event on February 15.
The current mark of 1:55.82 was set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak on March 3, 2002 – the day Hodgkinson was born.
The reigning Olympic 800 meters champion announced the launch of the competition, which will take place at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, the day after she was presented with the SPOTY trophy in a lavish ceremony during which her coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, were named coach of the year.
“I am beyond excited to announce the Keely Klassic, my first track race since becoming Olympic champion,” Hodgkinson said.
“This event aims to bring energy, passion and high-level sports to fans. It will be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, with some of the UK’s best athletes taking part and a particular focus on the 800m.
“I’m also excited to attempt to break the world record. It’s an opportunity for me to take my career to the next level while giving back to the sport that has given me so much.”
Hodgkinson’s personal best for this distance is 1:57.18, also a national record, set last February at the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Finals.
The 22-year-old’s season ended prematurely after Paris when she suffered a “small injury”.
The Keely Klassic is officially registered as a bronze level meeting of the World Athletics Indoor Tour and will be held the week before the British Indoor Championships at the same venue.
A listing for the event on the Utilita Arena website promises that the day will bring “renowned British athletics stars joining Keely to compete in various athletics disciplines” and will provide “a unique and immersive experience for fans.”
Hodgkinson is not the only athlete – nor the SPOTY winner – to host an event on next year’s tour.
Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, world record holder, who won the World Sports Star of the Year award on Tuesday evening, will bring his pole vault gala ‘Mondo Classic’ back to the IFU Arena of Uppsala for the fourth time in March.
