Keely Hodgkinson misses out European Championships gold medal in thrilling 800m final

Keely Hodgkinson misses out European Championships gold medal in thrilling 800m final The women's 800m was one of the most anticipated events of the European Athletics Championships, as it promised a thrilling three-battle between Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson narrowly missed out a home gold medal in the women's 800m final at the European Athletics Championships. Hodgkinson, 24, came second behind the supreme Audrey Werro in her bid a three-time European champion at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Swiss sensation Werro recovered from a dramatic fall during her semi-final on Thursday afternoon to clinch the gold medal with a rapid time of 1:54.81. Hodgkinson made the fastest start under the Friday-night lights but had the 22-year-old on her shoulder. On the final lap, Werro made her move and gained the lead. Hodgkinson pushed to make it a dramatic finish but couldn't pip her rival to the finish line and had to settle for silver. Meanwhile, Femke Broeders-Bol set a new national record for the Netherlands as she earned bronze. Hodgkinson was all smiles after the final, although she jokingly took her silver medal off during an interview. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page "It was a great race, I love a good challenge and that's what it was," the Atherton-born star reflected. "I have mixed emotions. With that level of competition, any medal is a good achievement. Another one to add to my collection and I can never be disappointed with that. "I knew it was going to come down to the wire and I really wanted to win. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. There were so many ways it could have played out. Audrey wanted to take it on, with that wind I was happy to let her. We are all great athletes and I look forward to the next match-up. "I've said all year it's really motivating to be in such a competitive event. I love it, it's such a competitive event. I had a pretty good day, it just didn't quite go the way I wanted it to." As for Werro, who ran the fastest time for 43 years earlier this season, she picked up her first senior international gold medal. But the rising star's chances of even racing were plunged into doubt following her aforementioned fall. Werro was holding the inside line in a crowded field before disaster struck, as she went down due to an 'unintentional touch' involving Werro and France's Anais Bourgoin. Following a review, Werro and Lithuania's Gabija Galvydyte were reinstated to the final. The organisers explained: "The incident resulted in the fall of two athletes, Werro and Galvydyte. Having reviewed the circumstances, the referee decided to qualify both athletes in accordance with the applicable rules." Reflecting on Werro's final performance, Paula Radcliffe told BBC One: "Audrey Werro is young still and that was a huge amount of pressure even without the fall, without the bruising and then to pull it together to take the race by the scruff of the neck, which I think Keely did intend for her to do but she thought she could come back at her. But Werro had another gear."