The stage is set for one of the most anticipated races of the European Athletics Championships after Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol all advanced comfortably to the women’s 800m semi-finals.
The three leading contenders for gold came through their opening heats without difficulty, raising expectations of a high-quality showdown in Thursday’s semi-finals.
Olympic champion Hodgkinson looked particularly impressive, controlling her race from the front before winning in 1:57.28, the fastest time of the opening round.
Swiss star Werro, who defeated Hodgkinson earlier this season with a stunning 1:53.80 performance that ranks among the fastest times in history, also eased through in 1:57.83.
Dutch athlete Broeders-Bol, the two-time world champion over 400m hurdles who has switched to the 800m this season, completed the trio’s clean sweep by winning her heat in 1:59.96.
Rivalry intensifies
Hodgkinson said she was pleased with how comfortably she progressed despite a disrupted outdoor campaign.
“Championships are a fresh start. That felt very good, very comfortable,” she said.
“The standard has gone up, but it’s good because it brings out the best in me.”
Werro, who has remained unbeaten outdoors this season and has already produced three of the nine fastest women’s 800m times in history, welcomed the strength of the competition.
“I think it’s really great because we can really push each other. We are really fast and I’m excited for what is coming next,” she said.
Medal race with record potential
Former Olympic champion Greg Rutherford said the ease with which the three favourites qualified underlined the gulf between them and the rest of the field.
“What I found fascinating about all three of the big names was that they made it look so much easier than the rest of the field,” he told BBC Sport.
The race has also drawn attention because both Werro and Hodgkinson are closing in on Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing world record of 1:53.28.
Hodgkinson improved her British record to 1:54.33 earlier this year, while Werro’s 1:53.80 places her third on the all-time list.
With Europe’s three leading 800m runners all in top form, the championship now appears set for a compelling battle for gold—and possibly something even faster.
