ATHERTON’S Keely Hodgkinson has regained her 800m European title in Rome tonight.

There was considerable speculation that Hodgkinson had been unwell in the build up to the final after impressing in yesterday's semi-final.

 

The two-time world and Tokyo Olympic silver medal winner clocked 1:58.07 in the semis to stake her spot as the fastest qualifier on day five of competition in Rome.

She led from the outset to win in a time of 1:58.65 but had to hold off a late charge to the line from Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanova who finished in a time of 1:58.79.

 

So Hodgkinson has another European gold medal to set her up nicely for a tilt at the gold medal in the summer’s Paris Olympics.