Keely Hodgkinson exits in tears from UK Championships but injury fears played down

British 800m record holder pulls out of 400m final

‘I wasn’t feeling 100% – I didn’t want to risk anything’

Keely Hodgkinson’s camp moved swiftly to play down concerns after the Olympic 800m champion withdrew from the 400m start line in tears just seconds before she was due to race at the UK Athletics Championships on Sunday.

Using the weekend in Birmingham as a speedwork opportunity, Hodgkinson emerged for the 400 metres final and began the usual pre-race strides in her lane, only to stop, grimace and slowly make her way to the side of the track. After a few seconds of thought, she crouched down and started to cry before she was led into the bowels of the stadium, with the race going ahead in her absence.