Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie reach European 800m final
Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie have advanced to the European 800m final following a dramatic afternoon of semi-final racing at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Hodgkinson kept her bid for a third successive continental title on track by winning the second semi-final in a controlled time of 1:57.38.
The English star successfully held off a strong challenge from Dutch 400m hurdles specialist Femke Broeders-Bol to comfortably secure her place in the showpiece event.
“Another 1:57, so I’m happy,” Hodgkinson told the BBC.
“The excitement makes me excited. I love a good challenge, and I hope for a clean race with no falling over and no wind.”
Werro reinstated after final-bend collision
The opening semi-final was marred by controversy when Swiss world-leader Audrey Werro took a heavy fall on the final bend.
Werro, widely considered the primary threat to British gold hopes, stumbled over the finish line but was successfully reinstated on appeal after appearing to clip her own leg.
Lithuania’s Gabija Galvydyte was also advanced to the final after being caught in the chaotic tangle of legs.
“I was feeling really great until the last moment but unfortunately something happened and I was on the ground one second after,” Werro explained.
Hodgkinson was relieved to avoid the earlier chaos in her own heat.
“You can’t worry about what happened to other people, but I hope she’s ok,” added the defending champion.
Carefree Reekie capitalises on chaos
Scottish runner Reekie expertly navigated the chaotic opening heat to win in a time of 1:58.61.
The 26-year-old produced a powerful late surge to avoid the collisions and ensure two home athletes will feature in the 10-woman final.
“It just shows anything can happen in championship racing and I’m just glad I switched on enough to move around it,” Reekie said.
“I heard somebody go down but I didn’t know who it was, I was just focused on getting to the finish line.”
Having suffered her own falls in the past, Reekie noted the psychological toll such incidents can take on athletes.
“That was a carefree Jemma. I didn’t panic, I’m really proud as that was really tough and there were some fallers in there.”