Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – It had been dubbed a race for the ages and so it proved as Audrey Werro outstripped home favourite Keely Hodgkinson to claim the European 800m title in Birmingham on Friday.
Issued on: 14/08/2026 - 23:32
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An electric evening session at a sold-out 23,000-capacity Alexander Stadium was also one of records.There was a record fourth 400m hurdles continental title for Karsten Warholm and a fourth for Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump, while his teammate Nadia Battocletti bagged a historic double distance double.The women's 800m was the final event of the night and the excitement was palpable as the athletes were introduced one-by-one with fireworks.Olympic champion Hodgkinson went out strong, but Switzerland's Werro proved to be stronger as she has for much of this season, reeling in her British rival and dominating the race to claim victory in a championship record of 1min 54.81sec.Femke Broeders-Bol continued her astonishing transition from the 400m hurdles, in which she is twice a former world champion, with bronze.There was another championship record by the irrepressible Warholm in the 400m hurdles as he totally dominated the race to sweep to victory in 46.63sec."I don't take any medal for granted but today was extra special for me as nobody has ever won four in a row," the 30-year-old world record holder said."I was so locked in today. In championships the medals always matter more than the times."Germany's Emil Agyekum took silver in 47.87, with Turkey's Ismail Nezi claiming bronze in 48.26.
