Coe predicts race of the year for women's 800m final

Sebastian Coe has described the upcoming women's 800m final at the European Championships as potentially the race of the year. Speaking in Birmingham on Friday morning, the former European medallist suggested the contest will be determined by how athletes navigate the 'killing zone' between the 500m and 600m marks.

The final features host nation Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic and European champion, against Switzerland's Audrey Werro, the current world number one. Femke Broeders-Bol, a former 400m hurdler, also competes for the gold. Coe expects Hodgkinson and Werro to lead the race early, making the back straight stretch a critical period where the winner may emerge with enough energy to survive the final 200m.

Coe noted that while tactical errors can be managed in longer distances like the 1500m, the 800m allows no room for mistakes. This follows a dramatic semi-final where Werro fell with 120m remaining before being reinstated. Coe anticipates that Hodgkinson and Werro may battle for the lead on the back straight, while Broeders-Bol could use her speed in the home straight.

Reflecting on his own career, Coe has a history of high-level European competition. He secured a bronze medal in the 1978 European 800m after a fast first lap of 49.3 seconds, and later won the European title in 1986 in Stuttgart. He also recalled a missed rivalry with 400m hurdles legend Ed Moses, who had expressed interest in breaking the 800m world record.

Coe expressed excitement regarding Broeders-Bol's potential in the event, despite his desire to see Hodgkinson win on home soil. The competition in Birmingham promises the direct head-to-head confrontation that Coe's historical rivalry with Moses never reached.