Hodgkinson misses out on European 800m title
Keely Hodgkinson admitted she “thought I was going to win” after being denied a third successive European 800m title in a thrilling showdown with Audrey Werro in Birmingham, reports BritPanorama.
The Olympic champion aimed for a golden hat-trick on home ground but finished with silver, as Werro delivered a remarkable championship-record performance, clocking 1:54.81. Hodgkinson crossed the line in 1:55.01, just 0.20 seconds behind her Swiss rival.
Despite making a strong start, Hodgkinson could not overtake Werro during the decisive final lap. “Mixed emotions. With that level of competition, any medal is an achievement,” she reflected after the race. “I thought I was going to win. I didn’t do anything wrong, just one of those things.”
Werro’s performance shattered a 44-year-old European Championship record previously held by Olga Mineyeva, who set the standard at 1:55.41 in Athens in 1982. The podium was completed by Femke-Broeders Bol of the Netherlands, who took bronze in a national-record time of 1:55.54.
Hodgkinson expressed her belief that the increasing competitiveness in the women’s 800m is pushing her to improve. “We’re all really great athletes so I knew it was going to be close. I’m looking forward to the next match-up,” she remarked. “Championship racing, that’s what it’s all about; you don’t know how it’s going to go.”
With this result, Hodgkinson’s silver adds to Britain’s tally of 10 medals at the championships, showcasing the host nation’s strong showing on home soil. However, the women’s 800m continues to evolve, raising the stakes for all competitors involved.
In the end, Hodgkinson may find herself re-evaluating her strategy, and as the landscape of middle-distance running shifts, every race is an opportunity for reinvention, reminding us all how the thrill of competition keeps us on the edge of our seats.
