San Francisco Frontiers - Werro upstages Hodgkinson to win thrilling Euro 800m gold

Werro ran a championship record of 1min 54.81sec for victory with Olympic champion Hodgkinson having to settle for silver with 1:55.01.

Former 400m hurdles world champion Femke Broeders-Bol of the Netherlands claimed bronze in 1:55.54.

The showdown between Hodgkinson and Werro, and to a lesser degree Broeders-Bol, had been touted as the one of the stand-out events of these championships.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, twice an Olympic 800m silver medallist and European champion in the event in Stuttgart in 1986, had predicted the race would be "one for the ages and the race of the championships".

In the end, Werro was too strong for Hodgkinson, the taller athlete pulling away on the top bend.

"It's been up and down over the last hours, I'm very happy with the medal," said Werro, who was brought crashing to the track in Thursday's semi-final and was only included in the final after appealing that she had been clipped from behind.

Hodgkinson, who was seeking a third title having previously won continental crowns in Munich in 2022 and Rome two years ago, added: "I think I'd be happier with the gold. It was a great race."

The 24-year-old said she had some "mixed emotions".

"I think with that level of competition, any medal is a really good achievement and another one to add to my collection so I can never be disappointed with that.

"But I'm defending champion so I wanted to do that.

"I knew it was going to come down to the wire but I really thought I was going to win today. But it wasn't meant to be. I didn't do anything wrong, it was just one of those things."

Hodgkinson added: "Audrey wanted to take it on and with that wind I was happy to let her. We're all really great athletes so I knew it was going to be close. I'm looking forward to the next match-up."

Hodgkinson started out fast and got out front as the athletes jostled for position after the break from lanes.

The Briton had the inside line, but Werro lurked on her outside shoulder and it wasn't long before the 22-year-old Swiss took control.

One surge from Werro and she was out in front, shooting through the bell for the final lap in a rapid-fire 56.45sec.

Hodgkinson fought back past Broeders-Bol and at 150m tried to make a move on Werro.

The Swiss athlete, however, held on for grim life and ultimately secured an impressive victory over her British rival.

The sound of cowbells rang around Alexander Stadium as Werro crossed the line.

Werro ran a blistering 1:53.80 -- the third fastest time ever -- to win at the Paris Diamond League.

The question now seems to be when, rather than if, Werro goes after the oldest world record still standing: the 1:53.28 set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of then-Czechoslovakia.

All eyes will be on the August 21 Diamond League meet on the fast track of Lausanne, with Werro basking in the limelight of home support.

N.Wilson--SFF