Composure is key as Keely goes for gold

THIS is the showdown everyone wanted, and it just might prove to be the race of the World Championships: Keely Hodgkinson against Athing Mu — the two 20-year-olds who led the women’s 800metres home in last year’s Olympic final.

The then-teenagers stamped their supremacy over the rest of the world in Tokyo, with Mu — the tall, graceful, long-striding American — powering to gold in 1:55.21, with Hodgkinson second in 1:55.88.

Both coasted to victory in their semi-finals on Friday night, though Hodgkinson looked to be working a tad harder than Mu, who will have a boisterous home crowd on her side tonight as she tries to add the world title to her Olympic gold. Could that support be a factor?

‘No, I think it’ll just make it all the sweeter if I manage to come out on top,’ said Hodgkinson with a laugh.

The Briton’s form this year has been up and down. She was ruled out of the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade on the eve of the event with a thigh injury but had two impressive wins on the

Diamond League circuit, in Eugene and Oslo, before being beaten in Stockholm by Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who is also a major threat tonight.

But regardless of what happens on the circuit, races like this evening’s are what truly matters — what Hodgkinson lives for.

‘Championships is where I belong, it’s a really good opportunity to put everything out there and see what you can do,’ she said.

Hodgkinson knows the showdown is being billed as a head-to-head with Mu, the favourite, but she is also wary of others in the field, such as world indoor champion Ajee Wilson, Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji and fast-finishing American Raevyn Rogers.

‘I can’t be complacent, there are a lot of very strong athletes,’ she said. ‘I’m happy, healthy and I’m ready.’

After missing out on a place in the 800m final, Jemma Reekie insists she will be ready to go at the Commonwealth Games later this week.

She said: ‘It’s been a tough old year with a lot of heartbreak.

‘I’m a tough cookie and I’m still determined to make the rest of my season better. Searching for my sparkle since glandular fever. But time is key and I’m going have to be patient a little longer.

‘I’m excited to focus on the Commonwealths now and hopefully go out there and perform as best I can.’