In a highly anticipated women’s 800m final in Birmingham, Audrey Werro of Switzerland secured the gold medal, ending Keely Hodgkinson’s bid for a third consecutive European 800m title. Hodgkinson, the British Olympic champion, settled for silver, while the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol earned the bronze.
The race saw Hodgkinson start strongly, but Werro overtook her on the back straight and maintained her lead. Werro crossed the finish line in a championship record time of 1:54.81. Hodgkinson finished with a time of 1:55.01, and Broeders-Bol achieved a national record of 1:55.54.
Hodgkinson’s perspective and new rivalries
Following the race, Hodgkinson expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging that any medal is an achievement given the level of competition. She stated that she believed she would win and felt she did nothing wrong, attributing the outcome to simply “one of those things.”
Hodgkinson noted the strong competition, stating, “Audrey wanted to take it on and with that wind I was happy to let her. 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 added that being in such a competitive event is motivating and brings out her best.
The final in Birmingham offered a glimpse into future contests involving Werro and Broeders-Bol. Other athletes, including world 800m champion Lilian Odira and Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell, are also expected to be key competitors in upcoming global events.
Hodgkinson hopes for another 10 years in the sport, acknowledging that new competitors will always emerge. She expressed pride in her consistency and ability to remain competitive, continuing to add medals to her collection.
Werro’s breakthrough performance
Werro’s victory marks her first senior international title, establishing her as a significant rival to Hodgkinson. Her performance in Birmingham followed a notable improvement in her personal best time earlier in the season.
The Swiss athlete’s best time is now faster than Hodgkinson’s 1:54.33. Werro also overcame a fall in her semi-final heat the day before the final, demonstrating resilience to secure the gold medal.
Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe commented on Werro’s performance, noting the pressure on the young athlete and her ability to take control of the race. Werro herself expressed her ambition to become European champion and to continue improving her speed.
The world record in the 800m, set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova with a time of 1:53.28, remains unbroken. Werro’s winning time of 1:54.81, however, did break the championship record that had stood since 1982.
Season challenges and future outlook
Hodgkinson’s outdoor season has presented challenges, particularly after overcoming two hamstring tears last September. Despite these setbacks, she broke the 24-year indoor world 800m record and won her first world title earlier this year.
A muscle “twinge” led to her withdrawal from the 400m final at the British Championships, and she competed with bandaged knees after a fall in training in Eugene. She later secured a victory at the London Diamond League, rebuilding confidence after what she described as “a tough couple of weeks.”
Hodgkinson’s silver medal in Birmingham contributed to Britain’s 10th medal in five days on home soil. She continues to progress her times.
Hodgkinson has consistently stated that she believes the world record is within her reach, and the increasing competition may necessitate even faster times to secure future titles.
Source: bbc.co.uk