Hodgkinson into 800m final and Werro through despite nasty fall
Keely Hodgkinson safely advanced to the 800m final while Audrey Werro secured her spot following a successful appeal after a dramatic fall.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Keely Hodgkinson won her semi-final heat in one minute 57.38 seconds.
- Audrey Werro crashed on the final bend but advanced to the final after an appeal.
- Gabija Galvydyte also progressed, expanding the final field to 10 athletes.
- The upcoming final features top contenders including Femke Broeders-Bol.
The women's 800m event at the championships delivered intense drama during the semi-finals, cementing its status as a must-watch competition featuring some of the biggest names in world athletics.
In the opening semi-final, Switzerland's 22-year-old Audrey Werro — who clocked the fastest time for 43 years earlier this season — set the early pace from the start. However, disaster struck with just under 140m remaining as she stumbled and crashed face-first onto the track on the final bend.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Footage subsequently showed that France's Anais Bourgoin, running closely on Werro's shoulder, clipped the Swiss athlete's right foot with her left hand, disrupting her stride. A grimacing Werro managed to get back to her feet and jogged across the finish line in last place while clutching her chest.
Following a review of the incident, a successful appeal by Werro ensured she would advance to the final. Lithuania's Gabija Galvydyte, who was also impeded during the fall, was additionally advanced, resulting in a 10-athlete final on Friday instead of the usual nine.
"Athletes know if that happens and you go down, you have to get up and finish."
Paula Radcliffe
Meanwhile, the second semi-final saw far less turbulence. British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson led from the gun and comfortably crossed the line first in 1 minute 57.38 seconds, holding off the late charge of the rapidly improving Femke Broeders-Bol, a two-time world 400m hurdles champion who switched disciplines this season.
Femke Broeders-Bol's transition from 400m hurdles to the 800m middle-distance event represents one of the most intriguing tactical shifts in modern athletics. Combining hurdling speed with the brutal endurance demands of two laps around the track makes her a fascinating wild card against established specialists like Hodgkinson and Werro.
Source: BBC Sport
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