Werro beats Hodgkinson to win inaugural Ultimate Championship 800m

Switzerland's Audrey Werro won the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship women's 800 metres title on Saturday, defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson of Britain in a highly anticipated final. The 22-year-old Werro led from the start and crossed the line in 1 minute 55.88 seconds, securing a major victory to cap a breakthrough season. Hodgkinson finished second in 1:56.26, while Dutch athlete Femke Broeders-Bol faded to third after trailing Werro for much of the race. The victory earned Werro 150,000 in prize money from the event's total pot of 10 million, which is the richest in athletics. The race brought together the three athletes who have defined the women's 800m this season, creating a rivalry that has captivated the sport. Werro arrived in Budapest as the overwhelming favorite after posting a world-leading time of 1:53.70 earlier in the year, the third-fastest ever recorded and the quickest in 43 years. Hodgkinson, the Olympic and world indoor champion, remained competitive despite an outdoor season interrupted by injury. Broeders-Bol, a former 400m hurdler who switched to the 800m this year, added another dimension to the competitive field.