Why Lilian Odira believes the women’s 800m has entered a new era
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 03.07.26. | 15:17
The world champion insists that she is focused on bettering her times rather than chasing the long-standing record
Reigning world 800m champion Lilian Odira believes women's middle-distance running has entered a new era following the long-awaited breakthrough of the elusive 1:53 barrier.
For more than four decades, Jarmila KratochvĂlová's world record of 1:53.28, set in 1983, stood as one of the most untouchable marks in athletics.
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While several athletes came close, none managed to dip below 1:54 until this season.
That changed on 7 June when Swiss sensation Audrey Werro stormed to victory at the Stockholm Diamond League in 1:53.98, becoming the first woman in 43 years to break the 1:54 barrier.
She then raised the bar again on June 28 at the Paris Diamond League, clocking 1:53.80 in another breathtaking performance that intensified talk of a possible assault on the long-standing world record.
For Odira, Werro's exploits have transformed what once seemed impossible into an achievable target.
"I have always been happy since the 1:53 barrier was broken because it showed us that it is possible. The barrier has been standing for so long, but now that it has been broken, it is possible, and we are working towards it,” Odira said.
The Kenyan, who claimed the world title in Tokyo last year, currently owns a personal best of 1:54.62, making her the eighth-fastest woman in history over the distance.
While many now believe the world record could soon fall, Odira is refusing to get carried away.
"This season, I am focused on bettering my personal best. I am not going to talk about the world record or something, but if we get it, fine, we thank God," she added.
Odira is currently in Eugene, where she is expected to renew her rivalry with Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson at the Prefontaine Classic, with another high-quality contest anticipated between two of the world's leading 800m runners.
The 2026 season has seen Odira steadily build towards another major championship campaign.
She opened her year with a second-place finish at the Kip Keino Classic on 24 April, running 1:59.15 behind Ethiopia's Nigist Getachew, who won in 1:58.79.
Odira then displayed her versatility at the Kenya Prisons Track and Field Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex, completing a remarkable treble by winning the 1,500m, 800m, and 400m titles.
She posted 4:29.1 in the 1,500m before returning to win the 800m in 2:07.8 and the 400m in 53.2.
Her Diamond League campaign began in Rabat, where she finished third in 1:57.27 behind Werro (1:56.56) and Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma (1:57.24).
To fine-tune her preparations for Eugene, Odira returned to domestic competition at the National Championships and Commonwealth Games trials on June 20, where she claimed a third consecutive national 800m title in 2:00.44.