Three Brits in Girls’s 800 closing
What an 18 months it has been for Keely Hodgkinson! European indoor champion, Olympic silver medalist, Diamond League champion, World silver medalist, Commonwealth silver medalist, and now European champion.
She summed up her emotions: “I’m undoubtedly actually comfortable to have completed the season with this particular gold medal. I felt just like the race might have gone just a few alternative ways. I believed I might sit again a bit of bit and see what everybody else would do. I bought to 250m in an excellent place and I set it up effectively to assault the final 120 and I had sufficient to carry it house.
“This one means loads. I’ve bought an incredible help group round me who’ve helped me to mentally get by means of the season. There have been a number of adjustments for myself as I’ve tailored to skilled athlete life, however I’m dwelling out my childhood goals, so I actually can not complain”.
There have been three British women within the race, so UK expectations have been excessive. The outcome was:
1 Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:59.04
2 Renelle Lamote (France) 1:59.49
3 Anna Wielgosz (Poland) 1:59.87
4 Lore Hofmann (Switzerland) 1:59.92
5 Jemma Reekie (GB) 2:00.31
6 Alex Bell (GB) 2:00.68
7 Christina Hering (Germany) 2:00.82
8 Louise Shanahan (Eire) 2:01.64
Fifth place was a bitter-sweet end for Jemma Reekie, who had glandular fever (mononucleosis) in February and remains to be recovering. She informed me afterward: “I ran it tactically OK, however I simply didn’t have the vitality on the house straight. It was at all times going to be dangerous working the Europeans three days in a row. Some days I’ve been discovering it robust simply to return out and do one race.
“Andy [Young, her coach] and I each knew that if it was an excellent day, I might exit and problem Keely and hoped to win it. However I by no means know if it’s going to be an excellent day till I’m within the race, and right this moment my vitality simply was not there.
“I’ve bought to take the positives, and I feel it reveals that I’m almost there and what I will do subsequent 12 months. I feel I’ve discovered loads this season, and I feel I’ll come again loads stronger. I’ve identified that I can run 1:58 when I’m not 100%. I take that as a constructive forward of subsequent 12 months, and I will likely be absolutely wholesome by then”.
Alex Bell stated: “I’m sixth in Europe, so I’m completely delighted. I used to be in competition as we went into the second lap; then, I noticed Keely exit for it, and I simply had an excessive amount of to do on the ultimate bend. I attempted to get across the Polish athlete, which compelled me broad, and I finally paid for that within the closing little bit of the race. However from the place I used to be coming into this summer season, I’m actually happy with myself for being a European finalist and giving it my finest.
“There have been some bumps within the street throughout the season. It actually solely bought going once I was in Eugene for the Worlds. So to jam-pack so many races into just a few weeks, I’m proud of what we have now executed and the progress we have now made. I’m wanting ahead to resting now and going once more for subsequent 12 months! I’m excited to get on the market once more”.
British middle-distance working is in an excellent place, and it’s encouraging to see the three athletes wanting ahead to subsequent 12 months.
