‘She was smoking the boys’ – Keely Hodgkinson reveals when she knew schoolmate Ella Toone would be a star
Football
Lionesses forward Toone taking her chance on the main stage
07/04/2021 AT 12:42
Hodgkinson has admitted that the pair’s sporting prowess led to her being compared with her older schoolmate, and believes that there was never any doubt that Toone would make it.
“She was two years older than me but somehow we just ended up getting on really well,” Hodgkinson said of her friendship with Toone after advancing to the final of the Commonwealth Games 800m.
‘It’s coming home!’ – England players storm presser after Euro 2022 win
“I was always referred to as the ‘mini Ella’ growing up at school. So we kept in touch from that and she was in Tokyo last year as well.
“We are just two young girls living their dreams.
“She used to play on our boys football team and she was smoking them, so there was absolutely no way she wasn’t going to make it.
“We did some cross-countries too. I always tended to beat her on the running, but she was naturally very good, she’s got a lot of talent.”
England’s European Championship win was their first major trophy.
More than 87,000 were watching on at Wembley, a record for any Euros game, while the BBC’s broadcast of the final was them most-watched television programme in the United Kingdom of the year so far.
“It was absolutely amazing, I really enjoyed watching it,” Hodgkinson said of the tournament.
“And what is that going to do for women’s sport? I’ve seen all the little girls watching it and it’s really nice for them to see that because before they wouldn’t have had that.
“Ella did so well to score. I know she’s on cloud nine so big congrats to her.”
Hodgkinson, who finished second behind Athing Mu of the USA at the World Championships in Eugene last month, is the favourite for gold at her home Commonwealth Games.
‘Wow, what a race!’ – Hodgkinson with ‘stunning performance’ to claim 800m silver
The England middle-distance runner won her heat and was joined in the final by Great Britain team-mate Laura Muir, who is attempting an 800m/1500m double for Scotland.
Muir’s teammate Jemma Reekie missed out on a place in Saturday’s final after finishing third in Hodgkinson’s heat and failing to secure a spot as a fastest loser.
Euro 2022
‘The missing ingredient’ – Williamson hails Wiegman after England’s Euros triumph
YESTERDAY AT 13:09
Euro 2022
England emerge as ruthless champions – The Warm-Up
YESTERDAY AT 09:43
Read the full article Here
