Hunter Bell Nears British History in 800m Thriller

Georgia Hunter Bell continued her rapid ascent in middle-distance running with a personal best of 1:55.96 in the women’s 800m at the Diamond League Final, finishing second to Switzerland’s Audrey Werro (1:55.91) in a photo finish. The Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, who recently switched focus to the shorter distance, now ranks third on Britain’s all-time list ahead of Dame Kelly Holmes.

"Competing alongside Keely Hodgkinson for a world podium would be historic," Hunter Bell told BBC Sport. "We could emulate legends like Coe and Cram – that’s the dream."

Asher-Smith Doubles Up in Sprint Events

Dina Asher-Smith demonstrated her versatility with top-three finishes in both the 100m (10.94) and 200m (22.18), overcoming a mid-season coaching relocation from the U.S. to London. The 2019 world champion narrowly lost to St Lucia’s Julien Alfred (10.76) in the 100m before claiming silver in the 200m behind American Brittany Brown (22.13).

"This proves my resilience," said Asher-Smith. "Changing continents mid-campaign wasn’t easy, but I’m peaking when it counts."

Burgin Pushes Olympic Champion to the Limit

Max Burgin announced himself as a genuine global medal contender in the men’s 800m, clocking 1:42.42 to finish just 0.05 seconds behind Kenya’s Olympic gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi. The 21-year-old Briton exchanged a grin with his rival after nearly overtaking him in the final strides, while world champion Marco Arop trailed in third.

Other British Highlights

  • Jeremiah Azu: Fourth in men’s 100m (10.03) behind Christian Coleman (9.97)
  • Amber Anning: Season-best 49.75 for fifth in women’s 400m
  • George Mills: Seventh in 3,000m following recovery from wrist fracture

Global Stars Shine Ahead of Budapest

American sprint sensation Noah Lyles (19.74) edged Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a gripping men’s 200m showdown, while Dutch hurdlers Femke Bol (52.18) and Karsten Warholm (46.70) set meeting records in their events. The Diamond League Final served as the last major tune-up before the World Championships in Budapest (13-21 September), where British athletes aim to convert promising form into podium results.

Tags:

#Diamond League #World Championships #Sprinting #Track and Field #British Athletics