Hodgkinson and Hughes Claim Silver In Birmingham

Keely Hodgkinson and Zharnel Hughes both won silver as the Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team took their medal tally to 10 at the Birmingham 2026 European Championships.

Hodgkinson finished second behind Audrey Werro as the eagerly-anticipated women’s 800m final lived up to expectations.

The Olympic champion was roared on by a capacity Alexander Stadium crowd as she sought to reel in the Swiss 22-year-old on the home straight and make it three European golds in succession. But Werro held on to win in a new Championship record of 1:54.81, with Hodgkinson two-tenths of a second further back.

“It was a great race, I love a good challenge and that’s what it was,” Hodgkinson said. “Congratulations to Audrey, I’m sure we’ll have many battles ahead of us.”

“The crowd was incredible and thank you to everyone that came out. I am very grateful to perform in front of a home crowd and hopefully we can do it again in the future.”

Jemma Reekie finished fifth in 1:59.15 on her return to a major international final whilst Hughes earned his sixth European Championship medal with his silver in the men’s 200m.

The 2022 champion finished in 20.16s, with gold going to Germany’s Owen Ansah. “I obviously wanted gold, but I’m happy with my fight, I still got a medal, I’m on the podium, I’m grateful.”

Kimani Jack and Joel Clarke-Khan finished fourth and fifth respectively in the men’s high jump final.

In the women’s 10,000m final, Megan Keith recorded a season’s best of 32:04.81 as she came home eighth.

Keith, who won bronze over 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games, said: “It wasn’t how I thought the race might go, I like to take risks and big swings and sometimes they work and sometimes don’t."

Izzy Fry finished 16th in 32:37.22, with Poppy Tank crossing 23rd in 34:03.99.

Fry said: “My overriding feeling has just been so much pride, that crowd was incredible. I told myself I wanted to come off and be proud that I put myself in good contention and a good position and up to 3K I was really proud of that race.”

Jade O’Dowda and Katarina Johnson-Thompson sit 15th and 16th respectively after four events in the women’s heptathlon.