Three Brits make women's 800m final for first time ever

Athletics 31 Jul 21

Team GB’s middle distance runners completed an unprecedented 800m hat-trick as three women soared into the final.

Jemma Reekie, Keely Hodgkinson and Alexandra Bell will all feature in Tuesday’s final after storming through today’s semi-finals.

Hodgkinson won the third semi in a time of 1:59.12 to guarantee her spot and will be joined by Reekie who came second in the first semi after running 1:59.77.

Bell faced a nervous wait after finishing third in the second semi, but her time of 1:58.83 was enough to see her through as one of the fastest remaining athletes.

Hodgkinson was delighted to secure her place “on the biggest stage in the world” and to make history by being joined by two of her teammates in what she admitted will be the biggest race of their careers.

“I’m happy – I’m really happy, happy for the girls as well,” she said. “Three out of three, definitely history being made here right now, so a big thumbs up from me.

“I don’t think about expectations – we’re just here representing our country and have fun and do ourselves proud out there.

“I just wanted to secure my place on the biggest stage in the world and it’s going to be the biggest race of all three of our careers and we really want to do our families proud and people that support us back home proud.”

Reekie revealed she is feeling really confident and has big dreams of bagging a medal in the final and suggested the semi results are testament to the strength of British middle distance running.

“I'm really confident but confidence has just come from the training that I've just done over the past few weeks that at the holding camp and I know I'm in amazing shape but it's an Olympic final and I've got to race it smart,” said the 23-year-old.

“I've definitely got big dreams and I stand on the start line of every race to try and win it and I'll run and do the same again and if I come away with a medal, I'll be really happy.

“British middle distance running is just amazing right now and I'm so excited.”

Bell faced an anxious wait to see if she would be displaced in the third semi. But her positive news ensured there would be three British athletes in the final.

She said: “It was a long wait but it paid off and I’m absolutely over the moon to join the other two as well, what a trio!

“When was the last time that happened. Honestly I knew those girls would do it, and I can honestly say we’re going to give them all hell in two days time.

“It’s going to be unbelievable. Clean slate now, two days recovery, rest and recoup and anything can happen in the final.”

Daryll Neita became the first British woman to qualify for the 100m final at an Olympics in 13 years and finished eighth behind a Jamaican 1-2-3 in Tokyo.

Jeanette Kwakye was the last to line up on the final start line at Beijing 2008 and Neita followed suit by running 11 seconds dead to finish fourth in her semi-final and qualify as one of two fastest losers.

World silver medallist Dina Asher-Smith missed out as her teammate’s time meant the 11.05 she ran in her semi was not enough to take her through.

Asha Philip was also unable to make it through her semi-final after finishing eight in 11.30.

Neita became just the second British woman ever to break the 11-second barrier in the heats but was unable to reproduce that kind of run in the final.

She recorded a time of 11.12 as Elaine Thompson-Herah set a new Olympic record of 10.61 to take gold ahead of teammates Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Team GB’s mixed 4x400m relay team took a hard-fought sixth in the final which was won by Poland in a new Olympic record of 3:10.44.

The quartet of Niclas Baker, Nicole Yeaergin, Emily Diamond and Cameron Chalmers finished in 3:12.07, less than two seconds behind the reinstated USA who took bronze.

The Dominican Republic scooped silver but it was the Polish four who were left celebrating claiming the gold medal after finishing 0.34 seconds clear.

Elliot Giles had to contend with the quickest men’s 800m heat in Olympic history but made it through to the semi-finals where he will be joined by fellow middle distance star Daniel Rowden.

The British trio of Reece Prescod, Zharnel Hughes and CJ Ujah safely made it through the 100m heats to secure their semi-final spots.

Ujah and Hughes both impressed by claiming third in their respective heats to ensure automatic qualification while Prescod finished fifth with a time of 10.12 in his heat, which proved to be enough for him to qualify as one of the fastest losers.

Sprint sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember sailed into the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles.

Pole vaulter Harry Coppell made it into the Olympic final after clearing 5.65m, having previously knocked his teeth out in training.

Coppell was unable to clear 5.75m but made it through on countback as one of three on 5.65m, joining 11 other athletes who had sailed over the higher mark.

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