Keely Hodgkinson’s bid for European gold continued as she stormed into the ultimate of the ladies’s 800m – moments after rival Audrey Werro suffered a dramatic fall that put her place in Friday’s showpiece unsure.
Werro – who ran the quickest time for 43 years earlier this season – led from the beginning within the first semi-final, however crashed to the ground on the ultimate bend.
The Swiss 22-year-old received again to her ft a second later and completed the race in final place, grimacing and clutching her chest.
Nonetheless, Werro will race towards Hodgkinson in a extremely anticipated ultimate following a profitable attraction, with footage displaying France’s Anais Bourgoin had hit Werro’s proper foot together with her left hand.
An earlier angle appeared to indicate Werro had clipped her personal leg earlier than falling.
There was much less drama within the second semi-final, with Hodgkinson safely crossing the road first in a single minute 57.38 seconds.
The Olympic champion led from the beginning and held off the fast-improving Femke Broeders-Bol – a two-time world 400m hurdles champion who selected to modify occasions this season – to advance.
Requested if she had seen Werro’s fall earlier than her race, Hodgkinson advised BBC TV: “I heard an ‘ooh’ [from the crowd] which isn’t a superb signal. I do not know what it regarded like.”
Talking earlier than Werro’s attraction, Hodgkinson added: “Clearly it is an actual disgrace and I hope she’s OK.
“I hope she’s within the ultimate tomorrow [Friday], that’d be a extremely thrilling race.”
