This is the second column on the European Under 23s, one of the most important meets giving us a view of the future of our sport.
Euro 23s Espoo, Finland
Keely Hodgkinson running 400
After winning the GB Championships 800m to secure a place in the World Championships in Budapest, Keely Hodgkinson announced that she needed to do some speed work and where better to do speed work than by running a 400 at the European U23 Championships.
The fall 2, HENRIETTE JAEGER, NORWAY, photo by Getty Images for European Athletics
Hodgkinson, who resolutely refuses to run the 1500s, has expressed an interest in running 4 by 400 relays. By thinks she isn’t yet fast enough. There was no opportunity for Keely to try out in the relay in Finland as GB did not have a team in the competition.
The fall 3, HENRIETTE JAEGER, NORWAY, YEMI MARY JOHN, GREAT BRITAIN, KEELY HODGKINSON, GREAT BRITAIN, photo by Getty Images for European Athletics
In Espoo, Finland, she achieved her goal of running a PR of 51.76 (improving 53.24 significantly). She said, “I cannot remember too much from this race. This is really a lot more different than the 800m. The girls were so quick. I was just chasing them and am happy for the top three. I was trying to get a new PB and to enjoy the competition. I have learned to be patient with every round and just to trust myself and stay confident. I think my 800m got quicker also, thanks to this event. It had been a lot of fun running the 400m”.
The fall 4, HENRIETTE JAEGER, NORWAY, KEELY HODGKINSON, GREAT BRITAIN, photo by Getty Images for European Athletics
The winner of the race was team-mate Yemi Mary John, who had taken third place at the GB trials in 51.61. Running a good PR of 51.04 ought to secure Budapest’s third (discretionary) place. Second was Henrietta Jeager, who set a national record despite a spectacular fall over the line. Hodgkinson was the first to help her up.