Keely shows she can put pedal to the medal

'BORED' HODGKINSON EASES INTO 800M SEMIS

- FROM CHARLIE BENNETT in Tokyo

KEELY HODGKINSON is ready to spearhead a late British charge up the medal table after breezing into the semifinals of the women's 800m.

The British squad have had a slow week in Tokyo, with just one silver medal so far, coming courtesy of Jake Wightman in the men's 1500m.

Injury knocked out three of the best British bets, in pole-vaulter Molly Caudery, sprinter Matt Hudson-Smith, and 1500m defending champion Josh Kerr.

It leaves them languishing joint21st in the medal table - below Bahrain, Tanzania and Cuba.

However, this weekend is stacked with medal prospects, including four relay races, 800m men's hopeful Max Burgin, right, and high-jumper Morgan Lake.

But Hodgkinson is supposedly the home banker and she eased concerns about her own injury issues by comfortably progressing to today's semi-finals.