Hodgkinson and title rivals progress to 800m semi-finals at Europeans

Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol progressed from Tuesday morning's heats to reach Thursday's women's 800m semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium.

The trio are among the favourites for gold: Hodgkinson is the Olympic 800m champion and the winner of the past two European titles, Werro ran the fastest time for 43 years to beat Hodgkinson earlier this season, and Broeders-Bol is a fast-improving Dutch athlete who has switched from the 400m hurdles this year.

Hodgkinson controlled her heat to win in 1:57.28, the quickest of the four heats. Werro won her race in 1:57.83, while Broeders-Bol finished first in her heat in 1:59.96.

Hodgkinson's post-race interview with BBC Sport was briefly interrupted by Italy's Eloisa Coiro, who said the 24-year-old was "an inspiration on and off the track". Hodgkinson said: "I have worked so hard and the shape has been there all year. It's just been an unfortunate couple of events that have led to me maybe being a little bit off. "Championships are a fresh start. That felt very good, very comfortable. The standard has gone up but it's good, it brings out the best in me. "All it takes is one person to raise the bar and you think more things are possible. Everyone knows that to keep up you have to keep getting better. It's a really exciting time for the women's 800m."

Werro, who took world indoor silver behind Hodgkinson in March, has produced three of the nine fastest women's 800m times in history during an unbeaten outdoor season; her best of 1:53.80 is the third-fastest ever. Hodgkinson improved her British record to 1:54.33 when she finished behind Werro in Stockholm in June.

Discussing the standard of the event after her heat, Werro said: "I think it's really great because we can really push each other. We are really fast and I'm excited for what is coming next." Former Olympic and world long jump champion Greg Rutherford, watching at Alexander Stadium, said: "What I found fascinating about all three of the big names out there was that they made it look so much easier than the rest of the field. "It's so easy for them, it is remarkable to see. It sets it up for such a good race going forward."

Rutherford added: "Championships are all about medals. Records will always be broken eventually, but if you win a medal that lasts forever. "But it is set up. The three best in the world here in Europe is an opportunity to break things like world records. It is the closest we're going to have."

Hodgkinson, Werro and Broeders-Bol will contest the women's 800m semi-finals on Thursday at the European Athletics Championships.