Werro outpaces Hodgkinson to win inaugural Ultimate Championship 800m title

Budapest, September 12 saw Switzerland's Audrey Werro claim victory over Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and Dutchwoman Femke Broeders-Bol in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship women's 800 meters title. Werro, at 22 years old, led from the start and finished the race in 1 minute 55.88 seconds. Hodgkinson finished second in 1:56.26, while Broeders-Bol came in third after sitting on Werro's right shoulder for much of the race.

Werro earned $150,000 for her win, which is part of a $10 million prize pool, the highest in the sport. The women's 800m has been a highly anticipated event, featuring the three athletes who have pushed the distance to new heights this season. Werro entered the race as the clear favorite after a stellar campaign that included a time of 1:53.70, the third-fastest time in women's 800m and the quickest recorded in 43 years.

She had consistently beaten Hodgkinson throughout the season, won the European title, and was the athlete most likely to challenge one of athletics' most enduring records. Hodgkinson, the Olympic champion and world indoor record holder, remained in contention despite an outdoor season disrupted by injury, while Broeders-Bol's remarkable first year over 800m after switching from the 400m hurdles added another dimension to the rivalry that has captivated the sport.

The women's 800m world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, remains one of track and field's most formidable barriers, despite advances in training methods, sports science, and technology. The record has also been surrounded by controversy due to Kratochvilova's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs during an era with lax anti-doping controls. Werro's victory further solidified her claim to be the athlete most likely to break the record.