Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson defended her 800-metre title at the European Athletics Championships on Wednesday in Rome.

Easily winning the opening and semi-final rounds in the time of 1:58.07, she was hardly tested taking the championship in the time of 1:58.65.

Taking second was Slovakia’s Gabriela GajanovĂĄ in a season-best 1:58.79. Finishing in third position was AnaĂŻs Bourgoin of France in 1:59.30.

Finishing composed on Wednesday, and otherwise running well all season, she looks ready to challenge for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The 22-year-old has already bettered her primary competitor Mary Moraa earlier this season.

RankCountryNameMark
1GBRKeely HODGKINSON1:58.65
2SVKGabriela GAJANOVÁSB 1:58.79
3FRAAnaĂŻs BOURGOIN1:59.30
4FRALĂ©na KANDISSOUNONSB 1:59.81
5GERMajtie KOLBERG1:59.87
6POLAnna WIELGOSZ1:59.99
7SUILore HOFFMANN2:01.13
8POLAngelika SARNA2:01.21
Full results