The European Athletics Championships are being held in Birmingham, marking the first time in 92 years that the event has come to Britain. Keely Hodgkinson is a prominent athlete at the championships, where she aims for an 800m gold medal.
Hodgkinson views the attention on her not as pressure, but as motivation. She anticipates significant family support and hopes to achieve a gold medal, which she states would be almost as meaningful as her Olympic title in Paris.
M11 Track Club’s Approach to Training
Hodgkinson attributes her achievements to her support system, specifically the M11 Track Club. This training group, based in East Manchester, is guided by coach Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, a world medallist.
The club fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among its international members. Painter highlights the importance of this environment, describing it as a family where athletes support each other through rigorous training sessions.
Training sessions at M11 Track Club are designed to push athletes to their limits. One such session in early June involved lactic acid-inducing 400m intervals, marking the beginning of a specific 800m training block for summer competitions.
Hodgkinson‘s performance in a recent Stockholm event, where she was outshone by Audrey Werro, reportedly motivated her to exceed expectations in subsequent training. She recorded personal best splits for a training session, surpassing times set before an indoor season where she secured world gold and an indoor 800m world record.
Painter has overseen Hodgkinson‘s development since she was 17, having previously coached Meadows to international success. Meadows‘ vision for a Manchester-based training group has become a global entity within two years.
The success of athletes like Hodgkinson has allowed Painter and Meadows to expand their operations. Support from sponsors has enabled them to add an assistant coach, a track-side physiotherapist, and a dedicated physiologist to their team.
The training environments used by the club, including the SportCity track near Manchester City‘s stadium, a car park in Wigan, and a dirt track in South Africa, reflect the values instilled by Painter and Meadows. These settings are described as humbling and free of ego, fostering a supportive atmosphere where athletes push and uplift each other.
Painter emphasises the powerful team aspect, noting that athletes celebrate each other’s successes and share in losses, pains, and injuries. He observes that new squad members quickly adapt to the demanding environment, seeing even the Olympic champion enduring intense physical exertion.
Competition and Fitness
The European Athletics Championships will feature a strong field in the women’s 800m. Audrey Werro, who recorded a time of 1 minute 53.98 seconds in June, is among the competitors.
Hodgkinson maintains confidence in her ability over two laps, intending to demonstrate this against a field that includes Femke Broeders‑Bol, a former 400m hurdle world champion. Broeders‑Bol has run 1:55 this year.
Hodgkinson confirmed her return to full fitness after sustaining knee injuries in a fall in late June. She stated that her knees have healed, and she did not miss any training, despite experiencing pain and inflammation.
The British team hopes for a strong start to the championships, with Amy Hunt considered a favourite for gold in the women’s 100m. Hodgkinson‘s 800m campaign is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, with semi-finals on Thursday and the final on Friday.
Hodgkinson believes the standard in European women’s 800m has advanced, making a European title as significant as a world title. She anticipates that the British team will achieve several surprise medals and perform well overall.
The women’s 800m world record, set in 1983, stands at 1 minute 53.28 seconds.
Source: bbc.co.uk