Keely Hodgkinson advanced comfortably through her 800-meter semi-final at the European Athletics Championships, securing her place in the final with a time of 1:57.38. The British runner’s dominant performance demonstrated her credentials as a medal contender, with Dutch competitor Femke Broeders-Bol finishing as runner-up in a strong showing for an athlete competing outside her usual discipline of 400-meter hurdles.
The competition took a dramatic turn during the first semi-final when world-leading favourite Audrey Werro experienced a shocking fall. The 22-year-old Swiss runner, who had been leading the race, was struck from behind approaching the final bend and crashed to the track. Lithuania’s Gabija Galvydyte also fell during the chaos as runners attempted to avoid the fallen athletes. Despite appearing severely winded and in obvious discomfort, Werro completed the race, crossing the finish line last.
Werro’s determination to finish stemmed from hopes of appealing her situation to race officials. The Swiss runner explained she needed to complete the race to potentially secure a place in the final if evidence showed she had been unfairly hindered by another competitor. Officials subsequently granted Galvydyte advancement to the final, though a decision regarding Werro’s appeal remained pending. Britain’s Jemma Reekie won the opening semi-final in 1:58.61, with France’s Anais Bourgoin and Switzerland’s Veronica Vancardo also automatically qualifying.
The incident has cast uncertainty over what promised to be an exciting final between Hodgkinson, Werro—whose personal best ranks third all-time—and other top contenders. Hodgkinson expressed sympathy for her rival’s misfortune while remaining focused on her own performance and hopes for a clean final race.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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