Lilian Odira/ FILE
World 800m champion Lilian Odira believes she is edging even closer to becoming the next woman to dip under the coveted 1:54 barrier as she gears up for a blockbuster showdown against Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson at Saturday's Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
The women's 800m world record stands at 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová of the former Czechoslovakia back in 1983.
However, after decades without a woman breaking the 1:54 barrier, Swiss sensation Audrey Werro finally rewrote history on June 7 when she stormed to 1:53.98 to win at the Stockholm Diamond League, the first woman in 43 years to go under 1:54.
Werro lowered that mark even further on June 28, clocking 1:53.80 at the Paris Diamond League in a race that doubled up as a world record assault. With the once-elusive 1:53 barrier now breached, Odira believes it is only a matter of time before she, too, ventures into that uncharted territory.
"I was happy when Werro broke into the 1:53 barrier. It's a barrier that has stood for a long time, and I think she showed everyone that it's attainable. Anyone can make it. We are also working towards it," Odira said.
The reigning world champion currently boasts a lifetime best of 1:54.62, set during her gold-medal-winning run at the Tokyo World Championships, a performance that ranks her as the eighth-fastest woman in history over the two-lap distance.
Following Werro's breakthrough, speculation that the long-standing world record will finally tumble has gathered momentum.
With Odira set to renew her rivalry with Hodgkinson, whose personal best of 1:54.33 makes her the sixth-fastest woman ever, another blistering race is expected at Hayward Field.
Even so, Odira insists her focus remains firmly on lowering her personal best rather than chasing global records.
"This season, the main focus is to better my PB. I will not talk about the world record, but if it comes, it's fine, and we'll thank God."
Odira and Hodgkinson first crossed paths at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, where the Briton won their semi-final in 1:56.86 as Odira finished fourth in 1:58.53, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Hodgkinson went on to strike Olympic gold in 1:56.72.
The pair met again at the 2025 Silesia Diamond League, with Hodgkinson once more prevailing after winning in 1:54.74 while Odira settled for second in 1:56.52.
However, Odira emphatically turned the tables at the season-ending Tokyo World Championships, producing a championship record of 1:54.62 to claim the world title as Hodgkinson finished third in 1:54.91.
To fine-tune her preparations for Eugene, Odira sharpened up at the National Championships and Commonwealth Games trials on June 20. There, she powered to a third successive national 800m crown, stopping the clock at 2:00.44. "I have been working towards preparing for the Eugene Diamond League. The National Championships were part of that preparation," she said.
Odira added that retaining her national title provided the perfect confidence boost ahead of another high-calibre test. "It's a great feeling to have won my third national title. The competition was very tough, so I had to get my tactics right."
The Kenyan is also encouraged by the progress she has made after overcoming a sluggish start to the 2026 campaign. "My body is responding well. I started with the Kip Keino Classic, but my body was not ready because I was coming from the off-season. "Now that my body is back to full fitness and I have picked up pace, I am hoping for a good race."
Odira opened her season at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, finishing second in 1:59.15 behind Ethiopia's Nigist Getachew, who won in 1:58.79.
The 27-year-old then showcased her range at the Kenya Prisons Track and Field Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex, completing a remarkable hat-trick by winning the 1,500m, 800m and 400m titles. She clocked 4:29.1 in the 1,500m before returning to claim the 800m in 2:07.8 and the 400m in 53.2.
Odira launched her Diamond League campaign in Rabat, where she secured a podium finish in 1:57.27 behind Werro, who won in 1:56.56, and Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma, who crossed in 1:57.24.
