European champion Audrey Werro came tantalisingly close to downing the oldest outdoor world record in athletics, finishing a little more than four tenths of a second off Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 800m mark of one minute 53.28 seconds, set 43 years ago.
Roared on by a 25,000-strong capacity crowd at the Zurich Diamond League, the Swiss hit the final 100m almost in stride with the infield pacing lights which had been set for a world record.
However Werro, straining hard against the clock, could not quite find the finishing pace she needed, clocking 1:53.70.
Still, the third-fastest time in history shaves another tenth of a second off the 22-year-old’s personal best and only increases the sense that she will break the record sooner rather than later.
“As far as the world record is concerned, I saw the light, but there was a lot of movement during the race and it was not calm,” said Werro, who caused second-placed Femke Broeders-Bol to check as she overtook the Dutchwoman at the start of her kick for home on the back straight.
“I still had enough energy at the end of the race to accelerate and to stay in the lead. Yes, it was tight for the world record, it was not meant for today.
“I am so proud to be able to run those sub-1:54 times, which shows that I can run consistently and fast now and this is good for the future.”
Werro has improved every year of her top-level career and now, having finished her studies and concentrating on the track, has shown ruthless consistency. She has four of the top-10 all-time 800m times, all clocked this summer.
For Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who withdrew from the meeting after her exertions in taking continental silver behind Werro in Birmingham, it only emphasised the challenge she faces in the event.