Matt Hudson-Smith reclaims British title on home turf

Matt Hudson-Smith reclaimed his UK 400-metre crown in front of the stand named after him on Sunday.

The Wolverhampton athlete, 31, was given an exemption last year so he could support his wife through the challenging birth of their now healthy daughter Eden.

But he returned this year to storm clear of the field in 44.45 seconds at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham to secure his place at August’s European Championships, which will take place at the same venue.

Meanwhile, world record-chasing Keely Hodgkinson insisted she is “healthy” after tearfully withdrawing from the 400 metres final at the UK Athletics Championships with what her coach explained was hamstring tightness.

The Olympic champion has made no secret of her summer ambition to break the one minute, 53.28-second 800m women’s standard set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova nearly 43 years ago, identifying next month’s London Diamond League as the ideal time and place.

A visibly emotional Hodgkinson – who was out on track in Birmingham for her pre-race warm-up – sparked concern when she abruptly pulled out but Jenny Meadows, who alongside husband Trevor Painter coaches Hodgkinson, later confirmed a physiotherapist gave the 24-year-old “the all-clear”.

Hodgkinson, speaking immediately after dropping out of the final, said: “I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent standing on the start line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race.

“I didn’t want to risk anything this summer.”