4th August 2024

Hodgkinson, Kerr, and Gourley seal Olympic final spots

Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh), Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) and Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) booked their places in box-office Olympic finals on a busy night of action at Stade de France.
Olympic silver medallist Hodgkinson was the fastest qualifier for the women’s 800m final by more than half a second in a semi-final that amounted to a real statement of intent.
The 22-year-old led from the front and never had cause to look back, crossing in 1:56.86 with Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma the next quickest qualifier in 1:57.47, ensuring she will fly the British flag in the final.
She said: “You can’t take any chances. It gave me a good practice for tomorrow but I just wanted to be safely qualified. Job done, we’re in the final now. Mission is on. All I can say is tune in tomorrow for a really exciting race.”

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan) was very close to snagging a fastest qualifier spot but saw her campaign end in the semi-finals.
The 26-year-old found herself in the perfect position coming off the home bend but was passed by three athletes to place fifth in 1:58.01.
Reekie said: “It was really tough. I’m in the best shape of my life, and I was coming here to fight for one of those medals. But it’s the Olympics, it’s really tough out there.”
Phoebe Gill (Deborah Steer, St Albans) was prominent in the first heat but didn’t have enough to make it through, clocking 1:58.47.
Gill said: “I’m very emotional right now, and that is not from being sad – that’s from being proud of myself.
“I’m just so happy to get through one round and to say that I’m an Olympian now.”

Reigning world champion Kerr shared a tantalising tussle with Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen as the pair finished as the top two in the first semi-final of the men’s 1500m.
The Norwegian looked to dominate from the front and Kerr was with him every step of the way as they crossed the line within a tenth of a second of each other, Kerr clocking 3:32.46.
Looking ahead to the final, Kerr said: “Fans should expect the most competitive 1500m the sport has seen in a long time.
“There’s been a lot of talking words over the last few years, I’m looking to settle that on Tuesday and give it my best performance.”

 

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Gourley reached the final on Olympic debut thanks to a composed semi-final run, staying in the top three throughout and finishing third in 3:32.11 behind American pair Yared Nuguse and Hobbs Kessler.
Gourley said: “It felt pretty solid. I wanted to get out quick as I knew there was a chance someone would want to take it on.
“I’m glad it was fast from the start, it made it tactically quite simple, even if the race was hard itself, tactically it was pretty straightforward, and I just wanted to hold my ground and did.”
Having successfully negotiated the repechage round, George Mills (Thomas Dreißigacker, Brighton Phoenix) placed 11th in his heat in a time of 3:37.12.
In the men’s 100 metres, both Louie Hinchliffe (Carl Lewis, Sheffield & Dearne) and Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet) exited in the semi-finals.
In a fast semi-final won by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in 9.81 (+0.7), Hinchliffe registered yet another sub-10 clocking with 9.97 but missed out on a berth in the final.
He said: “It was a good experience, not the result I wanted. But it’s definitely one I can learn from.”
Hughes came home sixth with 10.01 (+0.5) not enough to secure a final lane.
“I just didn’t make it – I am obviously disappointed, but I gave it my best,” said Hughes. “I have to embrace what happened just now, re-shape and go again.”
Both of Team GB’s male 400m runners found easy speed and looked strong in progressing from the heats.

 

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Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers) won his contest in a controlled 44.78s.
“It was an easy run,” said Hudson-Smith. “I was just going for the win and to try and make it as easy as possible and get ready for the semi-finals. I just wanted to execute my race plan as comfortably as possible.”
“Preparation has been really good, so now I just go for the win.
Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester) also crossed the line first in 44.96s, with both re-emerging in Tuesday’s semi-finals.
For Olympic Games results, click here.

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