Track and field fans are in for a thrilling showdown as the women’s 800m podium from last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo reunites at the Prefontaine Classic, the Eugene leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, on July 4.
Kenya’s Lilian Odira, Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell, and Keely Hodgkinson, who took gold, silver, and bronze in Tokyo, will meet once again at Hayward Field in a race named in honour of 800m legend Maria Mutola. Their previous clash in Tokyo produced a dramatic finish, with all three athletes running under 1:55.
Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic champion and two-time Diamond League champion, arrives in Eugene with her sights set on the 800m world record. The current mark of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, remains the longest-standing record in track and field. After smashing the world indoor record with a 1:54.87 in Liévin, France, last week, Hodgkinson said she has “never felt closer” to breaking Kratochvilova’s elusive record.
The British star’s recent form has been historic. At her last Diamond League appearance, she broke a 23-year-old meeting record at Athletissima in Lausanne. Odira finished second in that race, a foreshadowing of her stunning upset in Tokyo, where she narrowly defeated Hodgkinson to claim the World Championship gold.
Now ranked fourth in the world, Odira will be hungry to claim her first-ever Diamond League victory in 2026. Known for her tactical prowess and closing speed, the Kenyan has proven she can challenge even the most dominant athletes in the field, making her a formidable rival in Eugene.
Hunter Bell, who clinched silver behind Odira in Tokyo, will also be a major contender. The 2024 Olympic bronze medallist demonstrated her racing intelligence and late-race acceleration in Japan, narrowly outpacing Hodgkinson for silver. Bell will aim to build on her two Diamond League victories last season in Stockholm and London, hoping to assert herself as one of the premier middle-distance runners on the circuit.
The upcoming race at Hayward Field promises a high-stakes showdown. With the women’s 800m title named in honour of Maria Mutola, the legendary Mozambican runner and one of the sport’s most celebrated middle-distance athletes, the event carries both prestige and history. Fans can expect a tactical, fast-paced race with world-class athletes battling not just for victory, but for bragging rights ahead of the remainder of the Diamond League season.
Eugene marks the ninth leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, a global series that begins in Doha on May 8 and concludes with a two-day final in Brussels on September 4–5. Across 15 cities on four continents, the Diamond League brings together the sport’s biggest names, combining historic venues with world-class competition.
As the season heats up, the Eugene showdown represents one of the most anticipated clashes of the year. For Hodgkinson, Odira, and Hunter Bell, it’s not just a race—it’s an opportunity to test themselves against the best, measure their progress toward the world record, and set the tone for the remainder of the 2026 season.
With Olympic glory, world records, and Diamond League points all at stake, fans can expect nothing less than a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat performance when the three 800m powerhouses line up at Hayward Field on July 4.