Georgia Hunter Bell received the London Diamond League 800m in spectacular style along with her team-mate Keely Hodgkinson out by harm and the 1500m specialist is now eyeing a World Championships double
Georgia Hunter-Bell delivered one other blistering assertion of intent over 800m at the Novuna London Athletics Meet to assert the crown from injured team-mate Keely Hodgkinson.
And the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist says she is going to now search recommendation from Dame Kelly Holmes earlier than deciding whether or not to tackle the shorter distance at September’s World Championships. Hunter Bell, 31, is already certified for her specialist occasion due to final summer time’s Paris success.
However she is starting to set her sights on the 800m as a result of the path to a medal could also be clearer – not least with doubts over the health of coaching companion Hodgkinson.
Hunter Bell has pressured that the best is for each to be on the rostrum in Tokyo however she admitted: “You have clearly received to only look strategically on the occasions.
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“The 1500m has gotten even quicker than final 12 months. I did not assume that was attainable however it has once more, whereas the 800m in the mean time will not be as quick because it was final 12 months. So it is form of considering, in the event you’re making an attempt to get a medal, what is definitely the perfect factor to do.”
Requested concerning the possibilities of doubling Hunter Bell stated she is going to attain out to Holmes, who received gold in each occasions in Athens 21 years in the past, earlier than the trials in Birmingham on August 2.
“lt is technically an choice as a result of the schedule’s really fairly beneficiant,” she stated. “Lots of people can have their opinion. However there’s only a few which have really performed it and performed nicely in each.
“I’d prefer to see what she has to say about it. I don’t know what’s the neatest thing to do. She’s a little bit of a mentor. She notably reached out after Paris as a result of she received a bronze medal at 30 years previous and that was precisely what occurred to me.
“Then she went on a four-year keep to do the double gold in Athens. She felt like she wished to succeed in out to me and be like, ‘Simply proceed what you are doing. I’ve actually trodden this path, in the event you ever want any help.’ She’s received that relationship with Keely as nicely. We’re fortunate to have her.”
Had her hamstring allowed, this was meant to be an excellent homecoming for Hodgkinson. A 12 months in the past she introduced her personal nationwide file all the way down to 1:54.61 earlier than carrying the momentum into that wonderful win at Stade de France.
Hodgkinson is again in coaching and retains hope of being at full energy come September. However in her absence to date this season Hunter Bell has turn out to be a marked girl.
Her time of 1:56.74 was half a second off the PB set right here when ending third final 12 months however this was her subsequent greatest clocking. “I actually wished to get a PB however I’m nonetheless actually pleased with the time,” she added.
Jemma Reekie had performed a lot of the entrance operating solely to tie up within the remaining levels, ending sixth in 1:58.76, with Laura Muir tenth in a season’s greatest 2:00.95.
