Keely is finally a golden girl after 800m heroics
Keely Hodgkinson finally struck gold as she cruised to victory in the 800 metres final at the European Championships.
After claiming silver at the Tokyo Olympics, Hodgkinson was runner-up again to American Athing Mu in the World Championships – by just by 0.08 seconds – before finishing second to Kenya’s Mary Moraa at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month.
There was, though, no stopping the 20-yearold in Munich last night as she pulled away over the closing 200m to win in one minute 59.04secs, ahead of Frenchwoman Renelle Lamote.
Poland’s Anna Wielgosz finished strongly to take bronze as Jemma Reekie faded, finishing fifth, with Alexandra Bell in sixth.
“I think you can tell I was very happy to come here and finally get on top of the podium,” Hodgkinson said.
“There is a great team around me, they have helped me all season. It has been a hard year mentally, but we made it to the end.
“Trying to get that gold definitely helped. It is just about trying to forget and move on from it. Now I can go home with three medals, I couldn’t be happier.”
Great Britain’s men followed up with a composed display under pressure to take the 4x400m relay title ahead of Belgium and France.
Matthew Hudson-smith, Charlie Dobson, Lewis Davey and Alex Haydock-wilson led from the front to finish in a season’a best 2:59.35, holding off a late charge from Belgium down the home straight.
The women’s team of Victoria Ohuruogu, Ama Pipi, Jodie Williams and Nicole Yeargin battled to bronze in 3:21.74 as Femke Bol drove the Netherlands on to gold, her third of the Games, with Poland just taking silver on the line.
Earlier, Jessica Hunter won her heat of the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.27 to qualify for today’s semi-final.
Swedish pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis set a new championship record of 6.06m as he won gold.
In the final track event of last evening’s action at the Olympiastadion, Elizabeth Bird claimed bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final which was won by Albania’s Luiza Gega ahead of German Lea Meyer. Britain’s Aimee Pratt finished seventh.
Earlier in the Olympiahalle, all-round champion Joe Fraser helped Britain win the team gymnastics gold.
Britain finished ahead of Italy (247.494), while Turkey (246.162) took bronze following the six rotations of floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
It was a first all-round European title for Great Britain since 2012.
Fraser, 23, paid tribute to the combined efforts of the squad.
“The way we pulled together today really showed our character,” Fraser said.