The team behind Keely Hodgkinson’s golden rise: Targeting the world record

British Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson credits her success to the environment fostered by coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows at the M11 Track Club in Manchester. The international group of nearly 30 athletes is now setting its sights on the women’s 800m world record. BBC Sport observed a training session in East Manchester where Hodgkinson collapsed after intense 400m repetitions. Painter shielded her from the rain with an umbrella while teammates assisted her. Another member, Georgia Bell, was seen recovering after the session, a scene Painter describes as a standard part of the club's rigorous regime. Hodgkinson told the BBC that the environment is everything, noting that the approach is fun despite the intensity. Painter describes M11 as a family where athletes are willing to reach 'very dark places' during training, supported by a culture of mutual respect. Following a surprise defeat in Stockholm, where Swiss runner Audrey Werro clocked the fastest time in 43 years, Hodgkinson has responded with personal bests in training. Since joining Painter at 17, Hodgkinson has improved her 400m time from 57 seconds to 51.14 and her 800m time from 2:04.26 to 1:54.33. She has secured 11 major international medals in six years. Meadows, a former world 800m medallist, noted that M11 has grown from an ambitious idea into a globally recognised name. Success has allowed the club to hire a full-time assistant coach, a trackside physiotherapist, and a dedicated physiologist. Georgia Bell, who returned to the sport in 2022 after a five-year hiatus, has since won six international medals, including Olympic bronze. The group maintains a modest setup, training at public tracks and occasionally on dirt paths in South Africa. However, the lack of ego and strong peer support remain central to their success. Australian physiologist Rachel McCormick joined the team to analyse data on blood lactate, recovery, and adaptation. This scientific approach is crucial for the team's next major goal: breaking the 1983 women's 800m world record of 1:53.28. The strength of the M11 culture was evident at last year's World Championships, where Hodgkinson and Bell competed for gold. Despite Bell finishing ahead of her teammate, the two embraced on the track, highlighting a bond that balances fierce competition with deep friendship.