Keely Hodgkinson was forced to withdraw from the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships moments before Sunday's race. 

The Olympic 800m champion has been focusing on the shorter distance as a way of working on her first-lap pace to challenge for the 800m world record this summer.

After qualifying from the heats, she dramatically stepped off the track at the Alexander Stadium just minutes before the gun in the 400m. 

The 24-year-old has the Novuna London Athletics Meet next month pencilled in as a potential date with a further chance at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham in August.

But she insisted there was no reason to worry.  And Hodgkinson had her potentially history-making summer in mind when she chose not to race on Sunday. 

'I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent standing on the start line so I made the tough decision to step away and not race,' she said. 

'I didn’t want to risk anything ahead of this summer.' 

The race was won by British record holder Amber Anning, who set a new championship record of 50.16 sec to fend off Yemi Mary John and rising star Charlotte Henrich. 

Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell also set a championship record in the 800m, as she eased to a statement victory in 1:55.93 to put herself firmly in the world record conversation.

'I wanted to do a hard run and see where I’m at,' she said. 'It was a bit of an exercise in getting some answers to some questions.

'I am really happy. I have just realised over the last few years there is no point putting limits on anything. Everything is getting faster and faster.'