QUEEN KEELY

Brit ace beats illness & rivals to retain title

- ALAN SMITH in Rome

KEELY HODGKINSON battled through illness to remain the queen of Europe and admitted: “That’s the worst I’ve ever felt racing.”

The 22-year-old Brit led from the outset to win a second continental 800m gold in 1min 58.65secs.

While the manner of her victory was not as convincing as anticipated, it emerged that she had spent much of the day thinking about withdrawing because of a virus.

“It’s not been the greatest 24 hours,” Hodgkinson said. “I would have liked a better time but it was just about finding a way to win.”