Hodgkinson and gold medal rivals progress at Europeans
Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro, and Femke Broeders-Bol ease through their opening 800m heats to set up a highly anticipated showdown.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Keely Hodgkinson won her heat with the fastest morning time of 1:57.28.
- Swiss athlete Audrey Werro cruised to victory in her heat in 1:57.83.
- Dutch runner Femke Broeders-Bol crossed the line first in 1:59.96.
The European Athletics Championships got underway with thrilling action as Olympic champion and double European titleholder Keely Hodgkinson safely navigated her way through the women's 800m heats on Tuesday morning. Hodgkinson controlled her race from start to finish, clocking one minute 57.28 seconds, which stood as the fastest time across all four morning heats.
Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who stunned the British star earlier this season by running the fastest time in 43 years to defeat her, looked equally comfortable on the track. Werro secured a comfortable win in her race with a time of 1:57.83.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
There were no complications either for Femke Broeders-Bol. The rapidly improving Dutch athlete, a two-time world 400m hurdles champion who opted to switch events for the current season, crossed the line first in 1:59.96 to secure her spot in the next stage.
The strategic shift by Femke Broeders-Bol from hurdles to the 800m middle-distance event highlights a fascinating trend in modern athletics where elite competitors test their versatility across track disciplines. Transitioning from the 400m hurdles requires a profound adjustment in pacing strategy and aerobic capacity, making her competitive times in the 800m a testament to her exceptional athletic range.
Reflecting on her performance after overcoming a few minor outdoor campaign setbacks, Hodgkinson emphasized the hard work she has put in throughout the year.
"Championships are a fresh start. That felt very good, very comfortable. The standard has gone up but it's good, it brings out the best in me."
Keely Hodgkinson
Watching from the stands at Alexander Stadium, former Olympic and world long jump champion Greg Rutherford shared his observations with BBC TV, noting how effortless the top three contenders made their respective races look compared to the rest of the field.
Source: BBC Sport
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