I've never felt so ill in a race says golden Keely

HODGKINSON DEFIES VIRUS

- Alan Smith

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 led from the outset to win a second European Championships 800m gold in 1min 58.65secs.

And while the manner of her victory here in Rome was not as convincing as anticipated, the key was that she had spent much of the day thinking 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."

With a personal best four seconds faster than the field, she was priced up at 1/33 by bookmakers.