Keely Hodgkinson not feeling pressure despite quest for European gold

Ice-cool Keely Hodgkinson insists she is not feeling the pressure as she reaches the 'home straight' of her hunt for a first major championship gold. The Atherton star safely booked her place in Saturday night's 800m European medal showdown as a time of 2:00.67 fired her to semi-final victory in Munich. Ad Hodgkinson, 20, won Olympic silver in Tokyo last summer before doing the same at this year's World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

AthleticsAsher-Smith says European 200m silver does not reflect her fitness levels41 MINUTES AGO She says she's happy with her season overall and is relishing the prospect of a duel against a star-studded line-up under the city's Olympic Stadium lights. Hodgkinson, who competes at 7:15pm on Saturday evening, said: «I'd love to be on the top of the podium this year. »It's one of my aims and I was going into every championships to win.

«Unfortunately that hasn't happened, but I'm happy with my season overall. »I've performed well and I'm still one of the best in the world, but it would just be nice to finish on top. «I'm definitely on the home straight now — I just need to remain focused for tomorrow.

»I think everyone can pose a threat to medal — Lore Hoffman has had a strong last two years and you can never really count anyone out. «It is going to be a tough race in the final. I never count anyone out, but I know what I am capable of and I'm looking forward to it.