Keely Hodgkinson, along with primary challengers Audrey Werro and Femke Bol, successfully qualified for the women’s 800m semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships. Hodgkinson, the defending champion and Olympic gold medalist, led the field by clocking the fastest time of the morning in 1:57.28.
Swiss athlete Audrey Werro maintained her strong form, securing a comfortable win in her heat with a time of 1:57.83. Meanwhile, Dutch standout Femke Bol also advanced easily, finishing her race in 1:59.96 as she continues to transition from her success in the 400m hurdles.
Reflecting on the competition, Hodgkinson noted that the high level of talent in the field pushes her to perform at her peak. Former champion Greg Rutherford remarked that the three stars appeared to handle the qualifying rounds with remarkable ease compared to their peers. Both Hodgkinson and Werro are currently performing at a historic level, moving closer to Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing world record. The athletes expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming rounds, noting that the intense competition is beneficial for the sport.
