In her debut race at the distance, British standout eclipses 2004 standard set by Kotlyarova by clocking 1:23.41, setting new target for Mu at Millrose Games

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The quest for Athing Mu to run the world all-time best in the 600 meters Feb. 11 at the 115th Millrose Games will now focus on the pursuit of her primary rival instead of a former Russian star.

British athlete Keely Hodgkinson ran 1 minute, 23.41 seconds at her home facility of SportCity Indoor Track at a World Athletics Indoor Tour bronze meeting Saturday in Manchester, eclipsing the 2004 standard of 1:23.44 achieved by Russia’s Olga Kotlyarova.

Hodgkinson, 20, had never competed in the 600 before Saturday, but the reigning Olympic and World silver medalist in the 800 meters established a new target for Mu – who is the American record holder and No. 3 all-time at 1:23.57 with her 2019 performance at age 16 in New York – to chase in two weeks when she competes at The Armory in a World Athletics Indoor Tour gold meeting.

Hodgkinson became only the fifth female competitor to achieve a sub-1:24 performance indoors.

Ten athletes have achieved the feat outdoors, with South Africa’s Caster Semenya achieving the absolute all-time mark of 1:21.77 in 2017 in Berlin.