‘Mini Ella’ inspired by school pal
ONE is the England footballer who scored on the way to winning the European Championship. The other is the England runner looking to claim her own international title in front of a home crowd.
At Fred Longworth High in Tyldesley, Keely Hodgkinson was nicknamed ‘ Mini Ella’ after a talented teenager a couple of years her senior. That girl was Ella Toone, who was ‘smoking’ boys at football and was soon signed by Manchester United.
On Sunday, Toone became a household name when she scored the audacious opener at Wembley.
Now Hodgkinson, 20, wants to emulate her childhood friend by enjoying a gold medal moment at the Commonwealth Games.
She eased into the 800metres final after winning her heat. Hodgkinson is expected to upgrade the silver she secured at last year’s Olympics and last month’s World Championships on Saturday.
‘I was always referred to as the “Mini Ella” growing up,’ revealed Hodgkinson, who was born two miles away from Toone in Greater Manchester.
‘She was two years older than me at school but we ended up getting on really well. She used to play on our boys’ football team and she was smoking them, so there was absolutely no way she wasn’t going to make it.
‘I played on one football team with her at school but was nowhere near as good. But we did some cross countries together and I always tended to beat her in those. That was my forte.
‘We kept in touch from that and we were both at the Tokyo Olympics last year. We are just two young girls living our dreams.
‘She did so well to score on Sunday. I know she’s on cloud nine. What the Lionesses did was absolutely amazing.
‘It’s not going to be easy for me here because it’s a world- class field. But I hope I can come away with gold this time.’
Her nearest rival could be British team-mate Laura Muir, who is running for Scotland.
Meanwhile, Katarina JohnsonThompson is on course to defend her Commonwealth heptathlon title after topping the standings at the end of the first day.
The 2019 world champion leads Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor by 109 points. ‘I am really happy and I’m feeling good,’ she said.
Molly Caudery won silver for England in the pole vault after Holly Bradshaw pulled out due to a hamstring injury.
England’s Paralympic champion Sophie Hahn was in shock after finishing behind Wales’ Olivia Breen in the T37-38 100m final.