Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Gemma Hunter-Bell’s strength and endurance came to the fore as she came from a long way back, outlasting the field to win the women’s 800m in 1:57.66.
She overhauled Kenya’s world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Mary Moraa in the closing strides for a notable victory. Moraa had to settle for a season’s best 1:57.83 in second. South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso was third in 1:58:00.
“I ran that all wrong, making some bad decisions but the whole time I felt good so I knew I had something left,” admitted Hunter-Bell. “I was stuck at the back for a bit long and then ran on the outside longer than I should have but I did feel really strong and very good.
“I tried to find space on the inside that wasn’t there and I ran wide but 800 is all about positioning so I need to work from it.”
USA’s Isabella Whittaker won the women’s 400m, striding purposefully to the line to win in 49.78. Norway’s European indoor silver medallist Henriette Jæger was second in 50.07 and Britain’s world indoor champion Amber Anning was third in 50.17.