Keely Hodgkinson progresses to 800m semi-finals in Birmingham; fastest morning time 1:57.40

2026 European Athletics Championships: Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro, Femke Broeders-Bol all through to 800m semi-finals as Brit clocks fastest time

Keely Hodgkinson sets the tone and fastest time in the women’s 800m first round at Birmingham 2026 on Tuesday (11 August).

The favourites for the highly anticipated women’s 800m race at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham have all progressed through from Tuesday’s (11 August) first round.

With each coming out on top in their respective heats, Keely Hodgkinson clocked the fastest time of the morning in 1:57.40, Audrey Werro responded with a 1:57.83, while Femke Broeders-Bol put down a 1:59.96 run.

“The first round is always a bit tricky,” said Hodgkinson, who is going for a third consecutive European title. “The semi-finals are where you have to step up, but given the depth we have in the women’s 800m I had to give 100%, which I have never done before in the heats.

“The race felt good, I was feeling comfortable. I was happy to step out onto the track and be in a rhythm that I’m used to.

“This championship title would feel like a world title, because of the girls I will be racing against.

“This would be my third outdoor title and my fifth European title including indoors. I am really proud of that consistency and being able to show up every year on a European stage, which is hard, but it makes every [European] medal just as special as any other major medal I have won,” she added.

The reigning Olympic champion faces an intriguing field, including 22-year-old emerging star Werro , who set the third fastest time in the event’s history earlier this year, and the 400m-worldbeater turned-800m season debutant , Broeders-Bol .

“I’ve done a lot of things in the last few years, but nothing like this,” said Broeders-Bol, the Dutch four-time Olympic medallist.

“I’ve been working at this for a long time. It’s something new for me, and I can’t wait.”

Elsewhere, Eloisa Coiro set an Italian national record of 1:57.56 to automatically qualify, while Great Britain’s Jemma Reekie also progressed (1:58.45).

The semi-finals will take place on Thursday (13 August) at 12:10 local time, with the final on Friday (14 August) at 21:46.

Getty Images for European Athletics

Athletics | European Championships | Birmingham | United Kingdom