European 800m Final Set for Friday: Hodgkinson, Werro, and Broeders-Bol to Battle for Gold

The European 800m final is set to take place on Friday, featuring a highly anticipated battle between Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and 22-year-old Audrey Werro of Switzerland. Werro has been making waves in the athletics world with her impressive performances, including a 1:53.80 personal best time in June.

Friday, featuring a highly anticipated battle between Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and 22-year-old Audrey Werro of Switzerland. Werro has been making waves in the athletics world with her impressive performances, including a 1:53.80 personal best time in June. Werro's emergence as a top contender has added an extra layer of excitement to the final, which will also feature Dutch superstar Femke Broeders-Bol.

Broeders-Bol is contesting her first championship 800m final after winning two world titles in the 400m hurdles. The competition was fierce just to make the final, with 21 women breaking 2:00 and 11 breaking 1:59 in the prelims. In the semifinals, Werro fell while leading her semi on the final turn, but was advanced to the final along with Lithuania's Gabija Galvydyte.

Hodgkinson and Werro: A Battle for Supremacy

The final will be the fourth matchup between Hodgkinson and Werro in 2026, and the two women have already shown their incredible level of talent. Werro's 1:53.80 personal best time is the fastest time in 43 years, and she has been gaining on Hodgkinson in their previous matchups. Hodgkinson has been training well since London and has been talking confidently in the media, saying she won't lose to Werro again.

However, Werro's fall in the semifinals may have given her an advantage, as she may not have to go to the front in the final.

Dutch superstar Femke Broeders-Bol could be a potential spoiler in the final. Broeders-Bol has been improving rapidly in the 800m event, lowering her personal best from 1:59.07 in her debut indoors to 1:55.60 in Paris. To win on Friday, Broeders-Bol will likely have to produce a personal best time to run down the two favorites in the home straight.

However, she has been improving rapidly in this event, and if anyone is going to make a big breakthrough in a major final, it's probably going to be the woman still learning the event. The final will be a closely contested battle, with all three women having a strong chance of winning. The packed house at Alexander Stadium will be on the edge of their seats as they watch the European 800m final unfold.

You can stream the race live and follow the LetsRun.com team as they break down the race on their YouTube channel and podcast.

Source: LetsRun.com