Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson had to settle for silver as Mary Moraa triumphed in a thrilling 800m final at the World Championships in Budapest.
Targeting a first global title, the 21-year-old Hodgkinson clocked one minute 56.34 seconds to match her 2022 medal.
This time it was Kenya’s Moraa who took victory in a highly anticipated showdown with a personal best 1:56.03.
Defending champion Athing Mu won bronze as a captivating battle between the three main contenders unfolded.
Olympic silver medallist Hodgkinson, who missed out on last year’s world title to Mu by an agonising 0.08secs in Eugene, found space on the inside as she attempted to catch the fast-finishing Moraa in the closing stages.
As Moraa skipped in delight after upgrading her bronze, Hodgkinson clapped her hands together after once again going close to glory on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
This was yet another outstanding performance by Hodgkinson, whose silver secured GB’s eighth medal of the championships – beating the haul of seven achieved 12 months ago.
Team-mate Jemma Reekie finished fifth in 1:57.72 in her first world final.
