Georgia Bell, Molly Caudery, Jake Wightman sign up for the Keely Klassic
Keely Hodgkinson's attempt on the world indoor 800m record will be the highlight of the Keely Klassic meeting next month.
But there are likely to be plenty of other record attempts at the event in Birmingham on Saturday February 15.
The Olympic 800m champion has set her sights on breaking Jolanda Čeplak’s long-standing mark of 1:55.82, which was set coincidentally on the day Hodgkinson was born – March 3 in 2002.
Hodgkinson's best times are 1:54.61 outdoors and 1:57.18 indoors and she is currently preparing for the event in South Africa.
Jake Wightman will be looking to reclaim his UK indoor 1000m record at the meeting, too. The 2022 world 1500m champion used to hold the mark with 2:17.51 but it was beaten by Charlie Da'Vall Grice in New York four years ago with the Brighton Phoenix athlete clocking 2:17.20.
After setting a UK outdoor 1500m record of 3:52.61 in the Olympic final last year, Georgia Bell will come into this indoor season aiming to break the UK indoor mark of 3:59.58, which is held by Laura Muir.
Like Hodgkinson, Bell has been in South Africa training for the indoor season and will be keen to at least improve her indoor best of 4:03.22, which was set last year and puts her No.4 on the UK all-time rankings.
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Pole vaulter Molly Caudery is another big name who has signed up to compete at the Keely Klassic. The UK record-holder with 4.92m from last year will be hoping to enjoy another great indoor season, as she won the world indoor title in 2024.
“This event is all about bringing energy, passion and top-tier athletics to the fans," says Hodgkinson. "It will be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, with some of the UK’s best athletes competing and a special focus on the 800m."
The event is a World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze meeting and kicks off on February 15 at 10.45am and will reach a climax with Hodgkinson's world 800m record attempt at just before 5pm.
Buy your tickets to the Keely Klassic here.
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