In an impressive display at the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Audrey Werro clinched the women’s 800m title, securing a substantial $150,000 prize. The 22-year-old Swiss athlete clocked a time of 1:55.88, outpacing Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who finished in 1:56.26, and Femke Broeders-Bol, who took third place. Werro’s strategy paid off as she dominated from the start and surged ahead in the final 300 meters, concluding a stellar season where she triumphed in 14 out of her 15 outdoor races, cementing her status as a top 800m runner globally.
Despite facing injury setbacks this season, Hodgkinson expressed her satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her resilience after a hamstring injury had hindered her speed training. This race marked her return to form, even if she could not overtake Werro’s commanding lead.
Elsewhere on the track, Georgia Hunter Bell delivered a strong performance in the women’s 1500m, finishing narrowly behind Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska. Kazimierska claimed victory with a time of 3:57.55, just 0.15 seconds ahead of Hunter Bell. With her second-place finish, Hunter Bell earned $75,000, adding to her achievements in a season filled with significant championship wins.
The women’s 100m event also featured an outstanding performance, as world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed the race in 10.62 seconds, marking the fastest time globally this year. Olympic champion Julien Alfred followed in second with 10.74 seconds, while Sha’Carri Richardson secured third place in 10.76 seconds.