Jolanda Ceplak led from start to finish to win the women's 800m at the European Championships in Munich.

Britain's Kelly Holmes had no answer for the Slovenian and had to settle for bronze behind Mayte Martinez of Spain in second.

Ceplak went off at a furious pace on the opening lap and left the rest of the field trailing in her wake.

She passed the bell in 57.61secs and her competitors were happy to let her go it alone in the hope of the Slovenian tiring badly in the final stages.

But she stretched her advantage and with 200m to go she looked like holding an unassailable lead.

Holmes and Martinez seemed to be cutting into the lead going round the final bend, but Ceplak showed great strength to hold on and take the line in 1:57.65.

Martinez edged out Holmes down the stretch in 1:58.86, with the Briton crossing the line in 1:59.83.

Holmes was more than happy to add a bronze medal to the gold she took in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games.

"I just had to go for it," she told BBC Sport. "I've been running well over 1500m but the 800m has been hard for me this year.

"I've got to be pleased with a medal. I got one last week and another one this week.

"I'm doing it cleanly and I couldn't ask for any more."