Keely Hodgkinson is through to the final of the women's 800m at the European Championships, and so is Audrey Werro, despite a fall that left the Swiss runner clutching her chest and finishing last in the first semi-final.
According to BBC Sport, Werro had led from the start in that opening heat when she crashed to the floor on the final bend. She got back to her feet moments later and finished the race, but her place in Friday's final was briefly in serious doubt. A successful appeal changed that. Footage showed that France's Anais Bourgoin had hit Werro's right foot with her left hand. An earlier camera angle had seemed to show Werro had clipped her own leg before falling, which had complicated the initial review.
With Werro reinstated, Friday's final will now include ten athletes instead of nine. Lithuanian athlete Gabija Galvydyte, who was also clipped by Werro as she fell, was likewise allowed to advance.
Hodgkinson ran in the second semi-final and was largely untroubled. The Olympic champion led from the start and crossed the line first in one minute 57.38 seconds, holding off Femke Broeders-Bol, a two-time world 400m hurdles champion who switched events this season. Fellow Briton Jemma Reekie also advanced, having won the first semi-final in the chaos that followed Werro's fall.
Hodgkinson said she had heard the crowd react before her own race began. "I heard an 'ooh' [from the crowd] which is never a good sign. I don't know what it looked like," she told BBC TV. Before Werro's appeal had been decided, Hodgkinson added: "Obviously it's a real shame and I hope she's OK. I hope she's in the final tomorrow [Friday], that'd be a really exciting race."
The women's 800m has drawn attention throughout the championships because of the anticipated three-way contest between Hodgkinson, Werro, and Broeders-Bol. Werro ran the fastest 800m time in 43 years earlier this season. Broeders-Bol is a champion from another event entirely, having chosen to move up to the longer distance this year. The combination has made the final one of the most watched events of the meet.
Hodgkinson said the pressure of the moment works in her favor. "The excitement makes me excited. I can't wait to step out there. It brings out the best in me," she said. "I love a good challenge. Hopefully it'll be a good race, a clean race, nobody falling over."
The final is scheduled for Friday.
