Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships just moments before the race on Sunday due to feeling "a little twinge." The Olympic 800m champion had been competing in the shorter distance to enhance her first-lap speed in preparation for a challenge at the 800m world record this summer.

After successfully qualifying from Saturday's heats, Hodgkinson warmed up for the final at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium but stepped off the track right before the competitors were set to start. She appeared emotional as she left the track, later receiving a message from her coach, Jenny Meadows, stating that Hodgkinson withdrew to "play it safe" after experiencing a twinge in her final strides.

This decision comes after a 2025 season plagued by injuries, and just four weeks before the London Diamond League meeting, where she aims to make her mark on the 800m world record.

In the 400m, Amber Anning overcame a false start to retain her title with a winning time of 50.16 seconds. Meanwhile, Hodgkinson's friend and rival, Georgia Hunter Bell, successfully defended her 800m title, leading throughout to finish in 1:55.93, breaking a championship record set by Kelly Holmes in 1995.

The championship also saw Matthew Hudson-Smith honored with a stand named after him at the Alexander Stadium, where he won the 400m in 44.45 seconds, marking his sixth British championship title. Ben Jefferies secured a surprising second place with a personal best of 44.66 seconds.

Zharnel Hughes, despite losing his 100m title the previous day, claimed victory in the 200m with a time of 20.04 seconds. He expressed his excitement for the upcoming European Championships, indicating his goal to achieve a time under 19 seconds soon.