Hodgkinson wins Athlos 800m as Richardson, Thomas shine

Britain's Olympic 800m champion Kelly Hodgkinson wrapped up her season $65,000 better off as she won the two-lap event in the women-only Athlos meet in London on Friday. Hodgkinson, wearing a hooded, backless all-in-one black suit and shades, clocked 1min 56.40sec for the win.

The dominant victory came in a race that did not feature Hodgkinson's Swiss nemesis Audrey Werro or Dutch rival Femke Broeders-Bol.

Hodgkinson's training partner Georgia Hunter Bell was edged at the line of the mile by Diamond League and Ultimate Championship 1,500m gold medallist Klaudia Kazimierska of Poland, who won in 4:19.43.

"It's awesome to close the season with a win," the Pole said, taking her head-to-head for the year against British rival Georgia Hunter Bell to four wins to three.

Kazimierska and Hunter Bell, who has picked up the world indoor, Commonwealth and European 1,500m titles this season, were the two form runners in the field.

"Klaudia and I have had a lot of battles this season," the Briton said. "It's been such an amazing season."

Created by Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis' 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, Athlos is now in its third year after the opening two seasons were staged in New York.

It was "built to give the most trailblazing women in the sport a stage", Athlos said.

This year's New York meet, scheduled for October 2, was cancelled, and all eyes turned on Friday's meet at the StoneX Stadium in Barnet, home of English rugby union side Saracens.

 'CELEBRATING ALL WOMEN IN SPORT' -

There were just seven events, featuring 42 athletes, chasing not only a top prize of $65,000 (£48,500) in each event, but also a Tiffany&Co crown and an equity share in Athlos.

Four of the seven events went to a strong American presence, led by 2023 world champion Sha'Carri Richardson, who scorched to victory in the 100m in 10.90sec ahead of New Zealand’s Commonwealth champion Zoe Hobbs.

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas then streaked to the 200m crown in 22.13sec.

"That felt fantastic," said Thomas. "Athlos is all about celebrating all the women in sport.

"We're going to keep the momentum going."

Alaysha Johnson, in her 40th race of the season, reeled in fast-starting Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas to kick off proceedings with victory in the 100m hurdles in 12.50sec.

Charlton came in third as Nigeria's Tobi Amusan grabbed second, just a hundredth off the American winner.

There was a fourth US victory with Alyssa Jones going out to 6.66m to win the sole field event, a long jump with a raised runway and pit alongside the home straight and main stand of the stadium.

"I've just graduated college and I'm broke, so it's great!" said Jones.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic made it three Athlos wins from three, the Olympic 400m champion clocking a record-equalling 15th sub-49sec time with 48.73sec.

Norway's European champion Henriette Jaeger clocked a national record of 48.78sec for second.