Running News Daily

On February 19, 2026, all eyes will turn to Liévin, France, where Britain’s middle-distance star Keely Hodgkinson is set to chase history at the prestigious Meeting Liévin Hauts-de-France. The venue — the fast and intimate Arena Stade Couvert — has long been known for producing electric performances. This time, it could witness something truly historic in the women’s 800 meters.

The mark standing in Hodgkinson’s way is one of the longest-surviving records in middle-distance running. The official women’s 800m indoor world record of 1:55.82 was set in 2002 by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak. For more than two decades, it has resisted generations of challengers.

Now, Hodgkinson arrives closer than almost anyone in history.

The British star currently sits third on the all-time indoor list with a blistering 1:56.33 — just 0.51 seconds shy of the global standard. In the 800 meters, half a second is a heartbeat, a single stride at full stretch. It is the difference between brilliance and immortality.

Still only in her prime competitive years, Hodgkinson has consistently demonstrated the tactical intelligence and finishing speed required for a record assault. Indoors, where positioning is crucial and margins are razor-thin, her controlled aggression and smooth stride make her particularly dangerous.

Liévin is no ordinary stop on the indoor circuit. The meet has built a reputation for fast times, ideal pacing, and an atmosphere that compresses sound and energy into every lap. If conditions align — strong pacemaking, a committed first lap, and Hodgkinson’s trademark surge over the final 200 meters — the clock could be under serious threat.

What makes this attempt even more compelling is the era in which it unfolds. Women’s middle-distance running is experiencing a golden wave of depth and speed. Yet Ceplak’s indoor mark has remained untouched, almost mythical. Hodgkinson is not just racing competitors; she is racing history itself.

On February 19 in Liévin, the margins will be microscopic, the tension immense. One perfectly judged race could rewrite the record books. And if Hodgkinson finds that extra fraction of a second, the 800m indoor world record may finally have a new owner.