Hodgkinson into 800m final and Werro through despite nasty fall
Keely Hodgkinson reached the women’s 800m final at the European Athletics Championships after winning her semi-final in Birmingham, while Swiss rival Audrey Werro was reinstated following a heavy fall. The result preserves an anticipated contest between leading medal contenders, with Hodgkinson seeking European gold and Werro cleared to compete after an appeal found she had been impeded.
Werro, 22, fell with just under 140m remaining after footage showed France’s Anais Bourgoin striking her right foot with a hand; she finished last but was advanced, as was Lithuania’s Gabija Galvydyte, who was affected by the incident. Hodgkinson won the other semi-final in 1:57.38, ahead of event-switcher Femke Broeders-Bol, while Britain’s Jemma Reekie won Werro’s race; Friday’s final will contain 10 athletes rather than nine.
- Hodgkinson won her semi-final to reach the 800m final.
- Werro was reinstated after falling following contact from another runner.
- Reekie also qualified as the final expanded to 10 athletes.