European Team Championships: Day Two Athletics

great run. Daniel Awde held on to take a wonderful third place.

Charlie Grice, the youngster. Czech Republic get the maximum points.

This has been a very measured performance by Eilidh Child. She is

faltering on the line. Richard Yates comes through in third place. Greg

Rutherford. They will not catch Adam Gemili, and it is the jury for

Britain at last. Good afternoon, I trust you are

having a good weekend. It is day two of the European Championships.

Written has come here with a developmental squad, yesterday did

not get the pulses racing, but the British men's sprint relay team took

first base, which meant overnight this is what the scores look like.

Yesterday, he would have seen that Germany were in second place, but

their women's relay team were reinstated. It will be a fight

between Germany and Russia. France, great written and Poland battling it

out for third place. Perry Shakes-Drayton is training, but

today's Lewis and Colin Jackson are here. Impressions about the

first-day? I do not think it was the most scintillating day of athletics,

but it culminated in a very good relay, where Britain won. It is nice

to see, when you have got a group of guys that are clearly coming to the

top of their game, that they can capitalise on that. They got the

elusive maximum points. It was very good to see. Emphasis on

development. There are athletes who do not make the headlines, but they

can build on this in the future. Yes, this is a good opportunity for

these athletes. The selection team have done a good job in bringing

that together, giving an opportunity to these youngsters to develop under

pressure. Everybody speaks about the pressure of this event, it is tough

to crack. If you can come into this team and perform reasonably well and

gained a lot of experience, it sets you up for the rest of your career.

Especially this year. First up today, the men's 110 meter hurdles.

One of the few world-class fields we will see. I know you hate the fact

that the hurdles is the true quality event! This is a dress rehearsal for

Zurich, the three best hurdlers in Europe, and William Sharman is up

there. Let's talk about the Frenchman. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde

is the world leader, he has taken on all comers and put them away

handsomely. He excites me, he has got the whole package, the skills,

good basic flat speed, and if you marry that together, you get the

ultimate performance. He has good drive and ambition. He has bumped

into me and said, I am taking your record today! I love that. That

excites me. He has that challenge in mind. If that is in the back of your

head, it is the driving factor for him. William Sharman, I think back

to Burlington to those in nine, he made his breakthrough, and it has

been a stop start career since then. We have seen the best of him this

season, he is running well and a fraction of his personal best. When

he is healthy, he is a really good tech ocean. That bodes well, he has

got good flat speed. The event has not moved on to much this year, so

he is fighting for medals. I believe this could be his season, where he

can start to build and go on. You talk about how this event has not

caught fire this season, the Frenchman has the year's best, but

it is not even 13.0. What is going on? It is a rest season for many of

the dominant countries, United States in particular. He has

suffered since breaking the world record and having the phenomenal

Olympic year, virtually every single time he stepped on the track, Aries

ran under 13 seconds, so our expectation went up with his

performances, which is natural. It is the nature of it, you have ups

and downs, waves in movement of an event. Their widows, I am happy that

a European is on top of the world list now, and I have the opportunity

of witnessing them. They are into a headwind, which is

not always negative. Sergey Shubenkov is big and strong, he will

love running into the headwind. It could change the dynamics of the

race. It is time to say good afternoon to our commentary team.

Good afternoon, everybody. Good afternoon, everybody. A bit

cold in Braunschweig, the son tried to come through this morning, but

without too much effect. We are wrapped up again. Just six

athletes. There is Sergey Shubenkov, the

defending champion in this event, and the defending European

champion, a title he won in Helsinki, and a world bronze

medallist. This is the man the guys have been talking about, Colin has

been admiring his performances, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde. High

expectations from the French team for him to deliver. William Sharman

will not be giving this up lightly. We saw him a couple of weeks ago

running a good race, following it up in the Diamond League, and hurdling

very well at the moment. Matias Pooler for the home team. The

winning time was 13.77. The two races are combined in terms of

winning time was 13.77. The two races are combined in terms times

when we have lain events. Two races of six, they are seeded in terms of

their best times, so these are the better athletes. We do have

occasions where athletes from the first race to run quicker. So, you

will see a full result once all 12 athletes have run. William Sharman

in lane five. A good, clean start. William Sharman

came out of the blocks very well. I think William Sharman has got

this. The wind switched around, that was very close on the line. It will

need a photo to finish it. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, that was a poor

race from him. William Sharman thinks he has got it, and so do I.

Very close on the line. Stride for stride. It was all about the lean in

the end, and that is a big victory for William Sharman, when you think

about his European Championships. Mike has pointed out they have

actually given it to Sergey Shubenkov. Well, well, well. By 0.01

seconds? That is a personal best for William Sharman regardless, I

thought he got that. I would love to see the photo finish. Where were you

going, Mike? I was watching Sergey Shubenkov warming up, he was looking

powerful and slick and composed. Shubenkov warming up, he was looking

was surprised that Pascal Martinot-Lagarde made a mess of the

start, which gave the advantage to the men either side of him. It was

very close over the final couple of barriers. You get the impression

that William Sharman was still in front, at Sergey Shubenkov just got

it on the line. That is the best sprint hurdles ever run at this

meet, and it gets him the victory by 0.01 seconds. A lifetime best for

William Sharman, who is having the best season of his career so far. It

puts him third on the all-time UK list, moving him ahead of Andy

Turner. They have got opposite league legs, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde

and William Sharman. They came close at one point, I wonder whether the

fact that William Sharman. Out. Mac that is tight. He thought he had won

it, I thought he had, but it went to Sergey Shubenkov.

We all thought you had one here on the BBC, did you? I could not really

tell. I could feel Sergey Shubenkov halfway down the race, but I could

not look at him. I try to keep pushing all the way to the line. On

the last two hurdles, I felt myself getting really close, like I was

going to hit them. You have got two options, back off and play it safe

or keep pressing. If you do not fall over, you will get a good time. This

has been coming all season, a personal best, third on the UK

all-time list, there is more to come, though? Yes, I have just been

working on something with my coach. Cheers, George! What have you been

working on? I cannot feel all my secrets! It is something very small.

If you put one foot wrong in the start, you only have 30 metres to

accelerate, and if you sacrifice a step, you will not have top speed.

You are defending a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, European

Championships next weekend, you are on a mission. Typically, I have not

done very well at the European Championships. My first senior

international was in Gothenberg at the European Championships, I was

eliminated in the first round. The next European Championships,

disqualified in the semifinal. I am looking to put things right this

time around. 11 points for the British team, you have kicked us off

nicely. Well done. A great job from William Sharman,

and here is confirmation of the personal best. In third place on the

all-time list. Behind Colin Jackson and Tony Jarrett. We will update you

with the overall score later. Our pulses racing already after that. It

is exciting, this is what a race can do for you, you can be the clear

world leader, like Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, every body was

looking at him to do an incredible performance, but you have to clear

ten barriers well. He stumbled going into the first hurdle, the

Frenchman, he courted with his lead leg and childlike. If you have not

built up speed, it will cost you. In complete contrast, Sergey Shubenkov

took off, they'd used the advantage. I will use the word clean air, they

had nothing to obstruct them. They could run cleanly. Sergey Shubenkov

just taking the victory. He is a quality athlete. There is such a

difference between going seven strides into the first hurdle

against eight strides. You seem to be stretching, because you are using

power as opposed to frequency. He changed back over from eight to

seven. He has not resettled into the groove. A lot of the Americans run

seven. They change it over. It was a bit of a trend. Some people were

successful, so they all had a go at seven strides. Can be a detriment to

some athletes. When it goes wrong, it goes horribly wrong. You are

reaching if you do not have the height. You know what? Ultimately, I

am happy that William Sharman has stuck to his guns. He has had a stop

start nature to his career. This could be a push to go on to greater

things? Let's hope so, he looked good. There is plenty more to come

in day two. After all the controversy, against the odds,

Philip Phillips Idowu mixes comeback in British colours. Hannah England,

the team captain goes. We will see the poll -- pole vault world

record-holder. We finish with the four x 400 metres relay. The British

women look to hold onto their European record. This is the

timetable. Overnight, the Germans were

leading, how statistician, Mark Butler, has been working through the

night to come up with these projected scores at the end of day

two. He has Germany taking the title from Russia, a small margin. Poland

with a very strong second day, coming through into third. France

and Britain fighting it out for fourth and fifth. For the host

nation, very strong. In terms of Britain, there is something to

battle for, important for the team to have something to aim for?

Historically, the second day is always exciting. You know exactly

what you have to do. The relays tend to be a banker for us, we tend to do

well. Everyone will be fighting for every place. We have some exciting

events to do, to look forward to. The ones you have highlighted,

Sophie Hitchon, she is a great athlete in a world-class field. If

she can get a few scalps, could make a difference. Germany won the very

first European Team Championships, Russia winning it ever since.

Russia's dominance has been outrageous. They have shown their

power. Germany on home turf, they want to produce a performance for

the nation. They have suffered in athletics, the same years we have

been suffering, a lack of real enthusiasm, or support from

sponsors. They are having a big resurgence, as we are. 2012 helped

us, and events like this will help Germany. This is all about the team,

a points scoring system. If you are new to the European Team

Championships, here are some members of the British team to help you

through it. The points system is pretty easy. 12 points for each

event. 11 points for second place. Down to one point four Last Place. A

disqualification for a false start. Or a failure to register a throw or

a jump. That means zero points for your team. Men's and women's points

are combined to give the team score. The overall winner is the

team with the most points. Sprints and relays are staged over two

elites, with the points going for the fastest times. Middle and long

distance races are run as one straight race. Every event in every

athlete matters. Not about the number of events won, the number

points for the team. Yesterday there was just the one event where we took

12 points, the men's sprint relay. We have not had a win at all today,

nice to finish with a victory. It is not just about winning this, they

want to run faster than 39.06. Cleanly away. Richard Kilty wants to

use that good indoor speed. Very close to the line. Good handover.

Jamie Olsen going well down the back straight. Harrington on the third

leg. Britain have the batting in their hand first. We will have a 2-3

metre lead. It goes to Sharman. Germany giving chase. Great Britain

all the way, they won't catch them. Victory for Great Britain at last.

38.51. Germany taking second spot. Not the cleanest performances. That

show the talent and speed that this team have. Maybe they were not 100%

at their best, but certainly enough. Gentlemen, we waited all day

for a British victory, you delivered. You flew round the first

bend, Richard. Trying to get the team off to a good start. We knew

this was the strongest team we have had for a while. We got off to a

good lead, a strong performance. We ran well all round. A lot to improve

on, but happy with that. This is what it is about, we practice, train

hard, but together a good performance. We want to take this

forward, about getting medals at the Commonwealth and European G-Mac. We

enjoy the sport, everybody loves the relay. Come together like this as a

team. Richard got us off to a solid start. I took the same on the back

straight. It is a new team, we have not run together before this. A few

mistakes, going into the European Championships, we won the European

record. Eight a couple of nerve wracking changeovers. You got it in

a great position? These guys did all the work, I had nothing to do. The

changeover could've better, my fault. It is a strong team, we came

here to get the points, that is what we did. A nice job from the guys.

They do not always get the bat on round, pressure when they step on

the track. It is all about the bat on, a solid performance. A solid

performance from a team that has a lot of performers. They need to

interact, and work together. Each and every leg can swap comfortably.

We know Adam can run a phenomenal first leg. They will be scrutinising

to see if they got the best out of their runners. A solid performance.

Important thing, points, points, points, they got the bat and around.

We also have Phillips Idowu coming up in the triple jump. We will talk

about him later on. Many of us surprised to see him competing in a

British vest again. Some breaking news about his great rival, the

world champion, has been banned for three out of competition doping

tests. Very similar to what happened to Christine Ohuruogu a few years

ago. Banned until March, 2015. He says it is not doping, just

negligence, he needs to be more professional. He is surprised that

the length of the punishment, one year. Tyson Gay getting a year.

Rates. First of all, unforgivable. -- a year for steroids. It is silly,

not being where you say you are supposed to be. You fill out your

whereabouts form, in about three months in advance. You have two be

there. Unprofessional. -- you have to be there. I don't know whether it

should be a same ban as a drugs cheat. It is harsh. On the length of

the ban, Simpson, the Jamaican sprinter has 18 months for a

stimulant. Appealing to the Court of arbitration, they are free to run

following that hearing. They could be at the Commonwealth Games. A very

confusing situation for everybody. I mean everybody. Athletes, coaches,

management, the dope testers themselves. You may end up catching

somebody, the band is put in place, how long will it last for? Very

confusing, we need to get some clarity across the board. He does

not understand why he has got one year, they are punishing him very

harshly, we know it has been a year if you miss the tests. I feel sorry

for the lad, but he said himself, he was not as professional as it could

have been. The French Federation said there was no question of him

trying to deliberately missed the test. They made that very obvious in

the statement. Perri Shakes Drayton was with us yesterday, she has

tweeted she was woken up at 6am by the drug testers. That is what

athletes do. It is safer to put your place of residence, where you are

staying, where they can find you in the morning, or at the end of the

night. They come to your home when you are most likely to be there. It

is tough. Let's head out to Braunschweig. Steve Cram is there. A

huge surprise for Tango to do this, bad for him, bad for the sport. It

is very confusing for the people at home, perhaps not quite fair? It is

a bit of a mess. You say it is confusing, but I think they have to

look at this, and decide what is important here. Tamgo knows it is a

one-year ban for three missed tests. It does not look right when it

stacks up against Tyson Gay. One year is not enough. We will have Gay

racing Gatland, they are the headliners. The sport has gone

backwards. The Diamond league said they would not have anyone failing a

serious drugs test. We are just opening the door again, allowing

people to come back quickly. That is when it looks a little bit odd, and

Tamgo has not been caught taking drugs, and serves a long ban. It

needs to be sorted out. They should get Paula in charge. She wants some

clarity, the athletes need clarity as well. No excuses for Tamgo, they

do not need to fill in forms, they can do it by text, e-mail, if they

change their plans... We are involved with athletes you have to

do that on a daily basis, the girl that I coach, she's straight on the

phone, if she changes her whereabouts. They know the

importance. Paula, physically with Tyson Gay, changing the ban from two

years to one year. Is this going to be changed to a more analytical way

of finding people, people who are willing to blow the whistle? The

biggest breakthrough recently in catching cheats has been by

whistle-blowers rather than by progress through the tests. That is

what they are trying to do, show faith in athletes who are willing to

hold their hand up, admits what they've done, and give information.

Reducing the ban to one year, he needs to tell every athlete who has

taken that drug, and where they came from, and I'm not sure he has done

that. We need to find out what information he gave to merit that. I

don't believe it should have been reduced by that much. It is totally

the wrong message. With the missed test, the reason that the bandstands

at that, because people deliberately try to miss a test so they can be

out of testing for that period of time so the thing will be out of

their system. They do have to keep that at a decent ban as well, to

discourage people from saying, OK, I'm going to take a couple of missed

test, gamble I will not get three, so I can still take things. I'm not

saying that is what Tamgo has done. It needs to be sorted out. Phillips

Idowu is competing back in a British best, and it has been a career of

highs and lows and no little controversy.

He takes a silver medal. That is a European gold medal jump worth

watching again and again and again. He decided to make it public through

Twitter, that is not the way we operate. I am a bit frustrated. He

has done things his way. That hope it works out for him and he can make

the nation proud. That was not me today. I have competed for 12 years,

I cannot remember a time when I have performed that badly.

You could not have a Phillips Idowu Vitae without Charles van Commenee!

Fuwairt coached by Charles, you know him as a character, and Phillips

Idowu, it was a match made in hell! Total personality clash. They did

not get each other. Charles did not get Phillips Idowu and the way he

wanted to operate, but he wants to do the things that he wants, Charles

wanted the control, and it did not work. But you cannot take anything

away from the pedigree of Phillips Idowu, because he has done it, he

has got numerous titles, he is still the Olympic silver medallist, and

you cannot write him off. He has had its difficulties, but you never know

with him, and that is why we'd like him. He is very talented. We will go

down back to Braunschweig for the women's 100 metre hurdles, Serita

Solomon goes in this one. The Italian is the oldest, but also

the quickest this season. Serita Solomon, her performances suggest

that she has been better than that time this season, she has been

running into headwinds pretty much everywhere she has been. This is the

weaker of the two heats. A terrific performance a short time ago by

William Sharman in the men's event, there was a following wind, whereas

there was a headwind in the weaker of the men's heats, so still

swirling wind, conditions up in the stands closer to Sochi than

Braunschweig, but at least the British athletes will be getting

used to it. Serita Solomon in lane five, addicted to finish seventh,

which means she should win this, the first of two heats. 12 nations here.

In the races up to 400 metres, the athletes are split into two heats of

six, the heat split largely on season best times.

A good start by Solomon, Serita Solomon has a narrow

advantage. Serita Solomon weekends to finish in third place. Into a

very slight headwind. Solomon finished fairly close. It might be

she has a season's best but not a lifetime best. 13.12 seconds, the

winning time, we think it might just have been the Italian. A pretty good

performance from Solomon. The women's high jump well underway. The

O version for the German athlete, she goes clear. The bar currently

set at 1.87. She continues her clean clearances all the way, joint first

place. The 23-year-old from Germany. She has received tremendous

encouragement every time she is on the runway. She just clicked it, but

mercifully, for her point of view, the clean card continues. Coming

back to this hurdles race, Serita Solomon got away well. I thought the

Italian had maybe beaten the Polish athlete, but the Polish athlete has

one. Solomon is right there, but she loses it a bit. She does not lose

anything off the hurdles, she just lost a bit of speed. It will be a

season's best. The Polish athlete he calls

season's best. The Polish athlete he maximum points. Potentially dropped

points for Great Britain, it was predicted that Solomon would finish

in seventh place. If the second of the heat goes to form, that is

possibly her down in ninth place overall. On the high jump runway,

Isobel Pooley for Great Britain. That is her first attempt at 1.87.

We saw the German cochlear early on. A slight alteration, in the vertical

jumps, athletes will be eliminated on their fourth failure for the

entire card, so a clean card is of even greater importance than usual.

Only one more favour -- failure will be permitted for Isobel Pooley. She

is predicted a seventh place finish. Second in the world youth

Championships in 2013. Plenty of explosion, could not contort herself

over the bar. A failure for the Italian, her first attempt at 1.87,

but that is her second failure for the competition.

The athlete predicted for a maximum points finish. Just her third jump

of the competition. The bar is at 1.87. Clean all the way to this

point. Mariya Kuchina, the defending European team in. She comes in in

red-hot form, the 21-year-old. She cleared it with aplomb. As well as

the defending European team champion, she is the gold medallist

from earlier on this season, she shared the gold medal. With her

rival from Poland, Kamila Licwinko. She is in the field as well, so a

rematch, as they were the last to competing in the world indoors.

Plenty more to come, she got a season's best of 1.98. She is fourth

on the European list, so there is far more to come for Mariya Kuchina.

She is looking incredibly comfortable.

Not close on that attempt. She is predict did one point, and a 12th

place finish, by our statistician. She is currently in 10th place. The

second heat in the women's 100 metres hurdles. This features Candy

Billaud. We saw Pascal Martinot-Lagarde failing to justify

favouritism in the men's event, and Candy Billaud is the fastest in this

field this season. Yuliya Kondakova is in lane two for Russia. A strong

Dutch contingent in the crowd. Another capacity crowd in the home

straight, not so many on the far side, but a good atmosphere. When

the Germans are performing well, and we have seen a good success in the

javelin earlier today. The Ukrainian's best is just inside

13 seconds. Cindy Billaud is second on the overall European rankings

this season, led by Tiffany Porter of Britain. Serita Solomon finished

in third place in the weaker of these heat a key moments ago.

Lucie Skrobakova is the slowest in this field on season's times so far.

If she can get anywhere near her lifetime best of five years ago, she

will trouble the leaders. This is expected to be a victory for France

and Cindy Billaud. After 24 of the 40 events, friends are in third

place, no change to the overnight positions, Germany lead from Russia

and France, Great positions, Germany lead from Russia

and France, Britain still in fourth place, ahead of Poland, who have got

some strong performers to come later in the afternoon. They are settling

into their blogs. This is the second heat in the women's 100 metres

hurdles. Cindy Billaud got a strong start, as

did Yuliya Kondakova. Cindy Billaud wins impressively.

That is the fastest time of the season for Cindy Billaud. A very

impressive performance, she kept her momentum right from the start, she

was in control virtually from the start, she fought off the challenge

of Yuliya Kondakova. The German start, she fought off the challenge

third place, we think. No question about the winner, it is the fastest

sprint hurdles run in this meet, by Cindy Billaud, running into strong

form as we move through the season. She will head to the European

Championships if she stays fit as a real threat to Tiffany Porter and

the rest. The cheer from the crowd is that the German has come through

in second place, in a lifetime best performance, 12.80 seconds. A huge

smile on her face. Yuliya Kondakova in third place. Cindy Billaud has

had a great season, she has been mixing it with the Americans. She

beat Tiffany Porter in New York, and this was even better. They took

advantage of a good following wind. She starts well, she was unlucky not

to get a medal in the world indoor Championships. She occasionally

looks untidy, but not today. The German was not as good as the, but

she finished very strongly, rewarded with a personal best. This young

lady is getting better and better. When you look at the dominance, the

Americans have so much strength in depth, which is why Tiffany Porter

came to Great Britain, but the European Championships, it is

looking as though these two might have it between themselves. The

German was not far away. Importantly, the Czech Republic

runner was slower than Serita Solomon, so Solomon will move up to

eighth place overall. The French are pretty strong, some pretty good

athletes. We were talking about Phillips Idowu, there are quite a

few of us who thought we would never see him again in a British vest. He

talked about his temporary retirement, are you surprised to see

him back? Surprised, yes. Also glad, I think it would be a huge

waste of talent to see someone like him disappear because of a bad

attitude. It is nice to see him back, putting the British vest on,

and giving it a go. He has won medals at European Championships,

world champion, he has done a lot, he could pass on knowledge to team

members. This competition is all about pressure, he has struggled

getting consistent jumps under his belt. Rumour has it he has been

jumping pretty far in training. But we need to see practical

performance. This may be a tricky competition for him to come in and

score well. You talk about a bad attitude, but my feeling is he could

have done things differently, but he suffered because of the fallout with

Charles? Ultimately. You walk a very fine line when you are perceived to

be difficult. Great when things are going well, but when you find

yourself in difficulties, like he did going into the Olympics in

London, you are cut off, you isolate yourself. Time the way, he may have

reflected on those times, and realised he loves his athletics, he

is good at it, important he comes back, toes the line. He has shown

your black he's serious about what he wants to do. -- he has shown meal

black. The time you have is so finite, it is about finding speed.

-- Neil Black. When things get rocky, you going to sell protection

mode. I have my issues as well. I have some sympathy with him. I came

off slightly the worst. It comes from maturity, you look back and

reflect. Unfortunately you do not get that time again. Maybe some

redemption for him in the triple jump. We will see that later on. We

will head back to the field, and Emma Pooley in the high jump.

Her final attempt, not to be disappointment. Four failures is all

you are permitted in this team format. Those two attempts, coming

back to haunt Isobel Pooley. Phillips leading the rankings here.

16 metres and 99 centimetres. No athlete has been over 70 metres. He

is going last, perhaps not a bad place to jump, can respond to

others. Yesterday we dipped back into the archive from the European

Championships and Europa Cup, and you will not be surprised to see

that Mr Jackson had a few good performances!

They go, and Jackson a brilliant start. Exploding off the blocks.

Jackson by metres. 13.10, the fastest time in the world this year.

Incisive by Colin Jackson. Consistency is what it will all be

about, I am happy with that. What did you say? You had your mind on

the world record, that was your year. It was very early in the

season. I thought something special could happen later on in the year. I

got lucky. There was a lot of pressure. A lot of pressure to start

the event, I was following the likes of Chris Akabusi, Linford Christie.

Huge pressure to go and perform. There was a lot of relief. That was

after 92, the disappointment of Barcelona. I had a lot to prove,

especially to myself, and I was better than what people saw in

Barcelona. There were problems. I had to refocus, gather myself,

perform. To start the European Team Championships, there was pressure.

Nice memories. The men's 800 metres coming up. We will look back at the

performance from last weekend, the Diamond League, in New York. An

all-time great getting back to form and fitness.

Solomon in good form this year. There comes Lewandowski. Four.

Solomon doing well. Rudisha comes back. He is going to be Solomon.

Rudisha, 54.15. In total control. He is back. Great to see.

Great to see Rudisha back. is back. Great to see.

Great to see Rudisha back. He is confirmed for the Glasgow Grand

Prix. That is before the Commonwealth games. The triple jump

is under way. We look forward to seeing Phillips shortly. When you

are rusty, it is hitting the board, finding the rhythm. We saw him

struggle in the Diamond League in Oslo. It is the consistency, the

timing. Lots of times people don't get the timing. It is getting all

your winter work, your speed, your technique, you cannot do them all in

training at the same time, you focus on one. He has been out so much,

that is why he is struggling. We have seen it with David Rudisha

comedy is fit, ready to go, but you need to race, get into the

competition grew. Hopefully he can pull that together. That's macro

Rudisha, -- Rudisha, he pull that together. That's macro

will say he is fit, he should be doing well. That could give him

confidence, could turn his whole season around. Doesn't matter who he

is. You see the greats still finding their way. The difference he had in

Eugene, coming seventh, to New York, where he wins. Things can turn

around if you are fit enough. Great to see Rudisha back, running in

Britain. The last time was that night! It got a little bit last,

Super Saturday, as a moment, it was great. The best ever 800 metre race.

Personal bests galore. Area records. Tremendous to see. We saw this

Personal bests galore. Area records. 800 metre race. Middle distance

running was brought back in. Seven -- Sebastian Coates, I almost called

him Lord Coe. To feel part of a very special occasion. Inspiring you to

do great things, you can change the face of middle distance running. We

have Phillips Idowu route, and also Hannah England in the 1500 metres,

here are the thoughts of the skipper. Lovely to be team captain,

great honour. One of those things, great to have in your career. Such a

mix in the team, one of the most experienced members, was it a

surprise? I had to accept I am getting older, I have a lot of

experience. Lovely to see the young athletes coming through, being part

of that. Let's talk about the race. A quality field in the 1500 metres,

the Swedish athlete has been in superb form, how are you going to

approach it? I will approach it aggressively, it is a quality

field, I very much feel I have forward momentum, getting faster

with every race. I just want to go out and compete with the other

girls. I did not perform well at Gateshead, I'm glad I can perform

again. As an athlete, it does not change our outlook. I know I can do

well for the team, focusing on that. Hannah England coming up shortly.

First the Mukhtar Mohammed takes to the track. Mike Costello

commentating. Drawn on the outside. We are moving from the inside. A

high-quality 800 metres. The man who has won it twice, Adam Gee.

We just saw a very impressive win for France in the winning's sprint

hurdles. Here is the master tactician, winning in 2011. Very

impressively in Gateshead last year when he beat Andrew Osagie into

second place. Mohammed drawn on the outside. The Turkish athlete used to

represent Kenya. 12 athletes on the way, two laps of the track, there

could be traffic problems as they reached the entrance to the back

straight. They will leave their lanes, heading towards the inside of

the track. The Italian athlete trying to protect that position.

Sweeping through from the middle, Kevin Lopez, from Spain, the Polish

athlete trying to move through. They are very tightly grouped, Mukhtar

Mohammed in the middle. Mukhtar Mohammed having to move out very

quickly they're all pretty bunched together. Bosse poised, on the

shoulder, looking good. He has been moving well. He actually beat Adam

Kusut back into sixth place. He is trying to work to that French

record. The pace is quickening, Adam Kusut in front. Mukhtar Mohammed

dropping to the back of the field. That is a severe loss of points. At

this stage, he looks last. Into the home straight, it is Adam Kusut on

the inside. In second place Bosse. The German athlete sweeping through,

this can be one of the biggest upsets on the track? The 22-year-old

from Germany comes from way off the pace. Producing the run of his life.

One minute 46, .24 seconds. What a shrewd run. That is the biggest

surprise so far across the first 1.5 days of the competition.

There is a wry smile as they hug. Everybody standing, it is another

success for the nation in the lead. That is a huge boost to their

chances of winning on home soil. The German flies down the home

straight. Sweeping down the outside, lifted by the ovation from the

crowd, into the lead. Adam Coombes cot had no more to give. What a

performance, similar to Arne Gabius yesterday, he found something extra

in the home straight. It was the hunger and the ovation from the

crowd. What a victory, the emotion of that, the best success of his

career, for the 22-year-old. That is what you can call home

advantage and performing in front of a home crowd. He timed his run to

perfection, he did not realise how much he had left, and he found a bit

more. He tried to replay the victory of Arne Gabius yesterday. He was

pushed to a personal best. Straining every sinew to get to the

line, just ahead of Adam Kszczot, who thinks, where did he come from?

Fall of the dangers he have success -- assessed, the German would have

been some way down the list. So many strong performances from the German

athletes on the infield. Arne Gabius in the 5000 metres yesterday, he

came good. That was a beautifully timed run by the German, to come

from fourth place, to win. Mukhtar Mohammed improved by just one place

in the home straight. Great Britain losing out.

Germany are boosted yet again, Great Britain cropping to fifth place. The

difference between Great Britain and Poland, the difference between what

Mukhtar Mohammed achieved and what he was forecast. Clean clearances

all the way for the defending champion. She has Airlie exerted

herself, suggesting there is plenty more to come. Her season's best,

1.98. Plenty more energy still to give, as she prepares to defend her

Championships title. The third and final attempt at the height of 1.94

the German athlete. The four-time German champion. It is not to be.

That will conclude the competition. Not able to get it together on that

particular instance. Predicted eight point and a fifth place finish. She

appears to be right around par, fifth place, as expected, a solid

performance. There is one of the German athletic superstars, the

world record-holder. Hammer competition is so often begin an

afternoon of athletics, but here it is in the centre of the programme,

such is her stature and standing in the sport. Here is another one of

the main protagonists, Anna Bulgakova of Russia. She is looking

to break into the top four. Joanna Fiodorow of Poland. Predicted for a

third-place finish, in what is a really high quality women's Hammer

competition. Blue skies at last here in Braunschweig. Great Britain

represented by Sophie Hitchon. A real opportunity to gain more

experience, hearts still a couple of scalps, all in the quest for maximum

points in terms of her ability for the British team. Predicted for

eight points and a fifth place finish, the competition is about to

get underway shortly. Back to the high jump. The Ukrainian goes clear.

1.90 is where the bar is currently. She has just had one failure earlier

on, at 1.87. Looking very solid indeed. She is forecast for a fourth

place finish and nine points. She is going solidly to this point. Next on

the track, the women's 1500 metres. The German crowd will be hoping for

good points, but they should not hold out much hope. Going back to

the men's 800, the German is becoming a big-name very quickly.

His strength has helped him very much. Sometimes in the 800, it helps

you, and then in the 1500 metres, a bit of 800 metre pace helps. Hannah

England said she might want to be more aggressive here and push it on

a bit if it is slow early. She is coming into some better form after a

slow start to the season. The Russian will be a danger. Quite a

queue of these women have run a personal best this year. This is the

favourite, Abeba Aregawi. She will be the outstanding favourite for the

European Championships, the former is European. There is some

controversy in Sweden about how much she has immersed herself in that

country. One or two others to look out for, this young lady, she beat

Jessica Judd in Eugene over 800 metres. The Dutch racer won a

personal best. She finished eighth. It was one by another Dutch athlete.

Stepping in to help her country, ethnic replacement for Turkey.

Dash-mac a late replacement for Turkey. Tactics will undoubtedly be

a factor. I doubt Abeba Aregawi will want to show us her Diamond League

form. Hannah England has started off pretty aggressively and gone to the

front. I would not want to see her lead the whole thing, but nothing

wrong with getting them running, and hopefully somebody might pick it up.

Exactly. It keeps her out of trouble, she can choose her placing

and react as people, round her, and she is not at risk of the falling,

which we sometimes can see. She came into this disappointed with her run

last year, and she knew that she could perform better. With a bit of

forward momentum, she started off sluggishly this year, but she is

moving forward, and she wants to see that continue, and set a good

example for her husband, who is following her in the next race. He

will be running in the 3000 steeplechase. This very pedestrian

time. She is keeping out of trouble at the front. The Dutch athlete

moving through. The one that could be a danger, third from the back,

the Frenchwoman. She is based in the United States. She is 23. Those 800

metres specialists looking to get good points. This will become a

sprint as it slows down even more. Abeba Aregawi will keep out of the

way. They are probably waiting for her to do something, but by doing

that, if you accept she is going to win, you have got to come second. If

she is the best in the world, try to come second, and sometimes you need

to run your own race to do that. What we have seen often, with Mo

Farah, they expect him to win the race and to control it, and they are

looking around at him. That is what everybody is doing now, watching for

Abeba Aregawi, and they need to be running their own race, to ensure

the highest position possible. Abeba Aregawi will always be the one who

finishes the fastest. Here she comes. Hannah England will have to

be careful. She is accelerating, she does not want to be caught on the

inside. The Italian on her shoulder. The French athlete is tucked right

at the back of the pack, starting to move out. Hannah England is boxed

in, that is not a position to be in. That is it, moving through. Abeba

Aregawi moved out, and now Hannah England has to hold her position.

She did really well to take advantage of big up. I do not know

if Abeba Aregawi deliberately let her through. Hannah England got

herself back into a good position, she needs to hold it. The Germans

will be hoping their athlete can perform, but she is doing

will be hoping their athlete can the moment. Abeba Aregawi playing

with the field. Hannah England trying to keep going. She is moving

well. If she can get a second or third place... I am sure the Swedish

runner will turn on the afterburners. She is winning as she

once, just kicking away. Hannah England under pressure, she is going

to lose out. Abeba Aregawi take the victory. Hannah England has to

settle for fifth place. Fading in the last 100 metres. She will not be

happy with that. A disappointing race. Abeba Aregawi was not

interested in doing anything but turning it on a little bit, she did

not kick hard, it was all about the home straight. Job done for her

country. Hannah England looked as though she was getting things going,

but she faded a bit. When she is going well, she would run much

better than that on the last lap. She will be disappointed. Yes, she

put herself in the right place, she seemed to be doing everything right.

She really tied up badly. The Ukrainian came by her, and she is

drifting back. At this point, she is just hanging on, and luckily she

gets to fifth place. I do not think she will be happy with that, her

legs tied up on her in those closing stages, after she reacted well to

grab the spot when she was badly boxed in. Abeba Aregawi did not want

to do anything more than she had to. She expended as little energy as

possible. 58.48 for the last lap, she made it look easy. It is not to

be for Ruth baiter. That will conclude her composition. The

defending European champion outdoors. Her fourth failure, the

third at that height. Her best clearance of 1.90. Three failures at

1.93. To the hammer. Joanna Fiodorow. Her first attempt.

Left-hander. Blustery conditions on the infield, it is approaching 73,

perhaps, we will have to wait for confirmation. You wonder how the

athletes will fare with the conditions, given they are so

blustery. Swirling wind, changing direction in a hurry. 71.89 the

first attempt. The world record-holder, the leader. Her first

attempt. That will travel the lead. Appearing to be in a similar type of

compass. She is a world leader this year. A three-time winner of this

event. She has taken a leave of her first round effort. The hammer is

continuing, we want a quick word with Hannah England, finishing in

fifth place. Let's get a word with her. Thank you Steve, give me one

word to describe that racing your opinion? Frustrating. I was fine in

the first two laps, Elizabeth Windy. From lane one, my starting position,

the best thing would be to stay out of trouble. I did not want to lose

that advantage, but I did at the bell. I celebrated to get into the

gap, maybe I used some I speed up. It was fun to try and run with her.

That is what I want to do for the season. Gutted to lose those

positions in the last 15. With the more races and training, I will get

better. It is never about the times in the middle and long distance,

about the position, you finished fifth, team captain, how has your

weekend been? It has been fun watching everyone. All we can do is

try our hardest. Personally, going forward, a busy year, what have you

learned from this? I have learnt that I am not that far behind the

Swedish girl in a slow pace. My training is improving every week. I

just need to get back into the routine of international

competition. Your next race on the track, the husband is competing

next. Was he inspired by your team taught? I hope so. I will let you go

on supporting. This appointment for Hannah England. That extra

responsibility of being team captain, maybe not the best

position, because she said she was suffering under the pressure? What

are you looking for from a captain? Great leadership, maybe somebody who

has the pedigree of performance behind them. I don't know. Always

interesting, we used to have great captains. The team said she had an

inspiring speech. It comes with pressure. She said she has enjoyed

herself, you can hear from the interview, she is a bit disappointed

with how she fared. Let's have a look at the results.

Difficult to see anyone beating the Swedish girl at the European

Championships, class apart. She said she was disappointed, Hannah

England, at losing the leaders. In the overall team score, Germany

having a great second day, only three points ahead of Russia. We are

back down in fifth place. We have Luke Gunn going, Hannah's husband.

He may be saying, this is the chance to shine in my household. Every year

the sporting calendar throws up different highlights, the World Cup,

the European Championships, the Commonwealth games. Every year, some

things remain the same. Wimbledon starting tomorrow, last year was

special. Djokovic is waiting as Andy starting tomorrow, last year was

Murray looks to put 77 years of hurt behind British tennis. It was the

day. What a point. Andy Murray making a sleep from our seats. The

waiting is over! I thought it was one of the great memorable moments

in sport. Andy Murray is the Wimbledon champion. Winner or

nothing. You simply cannot give more. Go Andy, go Andy! It is still

special. One year on. There were lots of celebrations up

and down the country. You can see a special programme tomorrow to relive

the glory moment. More action from the World Cup coming up.

A big match, the USA versus Portugal.

The men's 3000 metres steeplechase coming up. Let's head back to

Braunschweig. There is Luke Gunn. Game to be a big

task for him. When Hannah England walks away from the cameras, fifth

place, she will be wanting better than that. Part of that was the

responsibility of being team captain. I think we're making a bit

much of it. I'm not sure we even had a captain in my day. I will have to

go and check that fact. Interesting race. One or two really good

proponents of steeplechase in this event. Luke, trying to get to grips

with this. There was a good performance from James Wilkinson in

Spain recently. James running eight .22. So far this year Luke has only

run eight, 35. Iraqi British trials next month. -- various British

trials. You have to admire the distance

runners by competing this weekend. In many ways, they are sacrificing

the opportunity. The Polish athlete has gone down, one of the

favourites, he needs to get back up, and gradually closed down, not panic

and expend too much energy. They were sacrificing the chance to go

and run a fast time in the Diamond League or a pace race. Over 3000

metres or 5000 metres steeplechase, this just takes energy, you don't

have too many races in the year. They are making a sacrifice by

coming here. Having said that, the pace is not too pedestrian. Luke is

tucking himself in well. Collectively the third group. Can

see the athlete trying to run it from the front. So many of the team

not born in Turkey these days. Let's break for the high jump just

reaching the climax. This is the final attempt. Having registered

three fouls on her card. Do or die, not to be. Her competition will

conclude. 1.95 the best clearance. Big points for the Ukrainians

finishing second. There is the winner. Mariya Kuchina. That is a

great result, securing 11 points for Ukraine though. A poor day in the

field continuing for Great Britain. A seventh place finish. Rachel

Wallader earlier on in the shot put, forecast ninth, coming in in

12. Women's hammer, still continuing,

Heidler in the picture. Coming back how -- to how important people like

Heidler are, there was a big points shift to Russia in the track events,

those field events are important to Germany if they are to win this

title. They have pulled out all of their big guns. They don't come any

bigger than Betty Heidler, Olympic bronze medallist from London. The

world record holder, and world leader this year. How will she

respond? Responding like a champion. Way beyond the yellow indicator.

72.23 the leading mark. Heidler, so composed, just strolling into the

circle. Inspired by this crowd in Braunschweig, or we're waiting for

is the confirmation of the extent of the lead. She goes into first place

with that second-round effort. Back with the steeplechase. Things have

been changing. A reasonable pace through the first kilometre. The

very talented Frenchman, who has not been very quick this year, certainly

grabbing the race by the scruff of the neck. Garcia did not go with

him. The others are strung out. Luke Gunn towards the back. Really

grabbing hold of this race. He is following a strong tradition of

French distance running. I know he was traced to lean on training in

the French Pyrenees, went down to Marrakesh, disappointed with his

performance. He's very focused on his pace at the moment. Germany

doing very well in this particular race Martin Brough having a good

season. The young German. The Polish athlete is dragging Luke Gunn

through the fields. He is doing well to hang onto it he needs to work as

hard as he can. Coming back to the team captain, there is nothing wrong

with giving it UN athlete for good service. -- giving it to an athlete.

Luke Gunn is being really inspired. No doubt about the leader. Yoann

Kowal, three metres to go. Victor Garcia looks really tired.

Luke Gunn might have a couple of people that he can catch. His eyes

are focused on the back of people that he can catch. His eyes

Italian athlete. He can see Victor Garcia stuttering. He has moved well

clear. I can see him possibly picking up two more. Luke Gunn was

predicted to come ninth, he is having a great run. The winner,

safely over the last barrier, Yoann Kowal. Rewarded with a great

performance. Germany come in ahead of Russia. Luke Gunn scrapping for

that fourth place, he just loses out to the Italian, but well done, just

outside his season's best. Good points for Great Britain,

better-than-expected. A gutsy run in the last couple of laps, digging

people off as he went through the field. It is warming up nicely. The

home crowd have plenty to cheer about, the Russians giving them lots

to think about, but it is going Germany's way at the moment. France

take maximum points, and well done, Luke Gunn, another championship

record performance. He was rewarded in his own front running after Tarik

Langat Akdag set the early pace. The German finished strongly. Yoann

Kowal was trying to call over the medical staff. He fought back really

well, but he has hurt himself badly. The medical team are slow. He has

got a good gash on his knee. This is the winner. Yoann Kowal. All of

these races are really good pointers towards the European Championships.

Not everybody is here, a sprint there just for show. A great run

from him. The tall Russian. It is an event, the French have led

the way in European steeplechase, with all of the Kenyan dominance

over the last 15 or 20 years, but the French have done brilliantly.

One of the athletes ran pretty fast a couple of weeks ago, and he has

been running well over the flat distances, Golding towards the

European Championships, but he can go quickly to the high jump. The

high jump competition has concluded, Mariya Kuchina had already won. She

had a better card than the Ukrainian. Mariya Kuchina attempted

a personal best, not to be on occasion. Russia leading by just a

single point, thanks to the victory of Mariya Kuchina in the high jump.

This is the third round. That appears to be an improvement,

defending his title. Projected for maximum points here again. Taking

this competition by the scruff of the neck early. 16.84 gave him a

lead, and he has extended it, with a season's best. Phillips Idowu

currently in fourth place, after a foul in the first round, 16.37 in

the second round. The women's hammer. Anna Bulgakova looking for

her first registered distance. This one appears to be fair. It is safe.

She is projected for a fourth place finish. The bronze medallist from

Helsinki two years ago. You wonder what type of impact that will have

on the school board. It should be enough to get it in and around the

projected fourth place, it is good enough for third. Back to the men's

triple jump. The representative from Poland.

Aleksey Fyodorov extended his lead, and that will not trouble the

leaders. Perfect on the board in that

instance. Currently down in fifth place, courtesy of his first-round

effort. No improvement. Listen to the support for the

German. Projected for a fourth place finish. He need some inspiration,

because he is way down in 10th place. He has not broken 60 metres.

Big pressure. He has run through. That is going to severely dent

Germany's championship aspirations, because the German, projected for

nine valuable points, will not get an extra attempt. He is down in 10th

place. A poor showing here, one of the few German athletes who has

failed to be inspired by the crowd. That will make a severe dent in

their pursuit of the second Championships in this new format of

the European team competition. When this gets factored in, the German

point gained on Russia in the steeplechase... A good run from Luke

going in fifth place. Yes, and fingers crossed for

Phillips Idowu, he is behind what we would expect.

That was better than predicted, we had you done to finish in ninth, and

you finished fifth. I looked at the same start list last night, if you

run a smart race, top five is on the cards. Did you get the opportunity

to pick people off? I missed the break earlier than I wanted to. I

got boxed a bit, and then there was a gap, but I knew some of them would

come back to me. I could have gone a bit quicker, but I am happy with

fifth. Your wife was also in fifth place, if you metres away from us,

cheering you on. What are you going to discuss the night? We have got

separate goals, I only got to see the last 100 metres of her race. We

will sit down and see where we are at. We have got a big Championships

next week, we both want to be British champions, there is a nice

field, it will not be too dissimilar to a European final. There is still

time to tweak. A good run today, a few more points than expected, super

stuff. Would you want to be married to an

athlete in the same team? I could say something, but I will not! The

wife of Luke Gunn was cheering on in the stands, in a dual role, she was

the team captain, and with passion, that is more as a wife, I think,

than as a team captain. We will continue our look back into the

archives, Gateshead 2000. Away first time. Darren Campbell

going well. It is a good run by Darren Campbell, he wins it easily.

10.09. That was a brilliant run by Darren Campbell. The wind speed just

over the legal limit. But that was a truly magnificent performance by

this British athlete, he came in at such late notice. He is already the

European champion, what more is in store?

They told me with an hour to go that they wanted me to do the 100. I felt

quite good, I thought I would do my best. Fortunately, I won't.

-- I'm both the winner. He was the Olympic silver medallist

over the 200 metres. Let's have a look at the women's 200 metres.

I have had a nice season so far, still some bits to work on. It is a

long season ahead. The Commonwealth Games and the European

Championships, I am looking forward to them both. It is going to be a

great season. What are the bits that you are going to be working on? Bits

that you will work on this weekend? Definitely. Race rhythm, timing, I

am putting all the pieces together, working with my coach on a few

things, and I will add a couple for hundreds at some point. Maybe before

the Commonwealth Games, or at least before the European Championships,

but it is looking good. She is going shortly in the women's

200 metres. She is one of the unsung athletes. But with great talent.

Yes, she is finding her way. She doubled in the 400, she ran a good

400 last year. She is honing their skills. She is almost there. We have

got a handful of athletes, it is just taking the next step to be

consistent and to be head and shoulders the start of British

sprinting, she is not quite there yet. But this is a good line up for

her. We are going to see Jodie Williams potentially in the relay

later. That is an interesting selection. Are you surprised that

Jodie was not selected individually for this? But perhaps she felt she

was not going to be ready, where her priorities would be. Athletics is

still about individuals, what they want to do with their life. For

Jodie, this was not the race for her, perhaps. She has a big

competition next weekend, that will be the most important thing. The

sprints will be competitive, both men and women. They have got a lot

of scores to settle, people coming back to form, people sustaining

their form, it will be exciting. The athletes are out for the women's 200

metres, Anyika Onuora going for Britain. She has not got the best

lane draw. Yes, Anyika Onuora predicted to

finish in fourth place, possibly in third place, because of the

defection in lane number four of Myriam Soumare.

This is a late replacement for Myriam Soumare, who has withdrawn

after winning the 100 metres yesterday. 22 years of age. Dafne

Schippers of the Netherlands, she leads the European rankings, 22.35.

She has told us that she is planning to compete in the heptathlon at the

European Championships later in the season.

You were talking about Jodie Williams, she ran the relay

yesterday. She is returning to action later this afternoon in the

other relay. She leads the British rankings in this 200 metres so far

this year, just ahead of Bianca Williams, who ran a terrific race

behind Allyson Felix in the Czech Republic last week. Katarina

Johnson-Thompson is third, the heptathlete, 22.89, just ahead of

Anyika Onuora, who is in lane two. The late replacement for Myriam

Soumare, who won the 100 metres yesterday, could it be a French

double? Dafne Schippers leads the European rankings so far this

season. the track.

The outside athletes going well. Pogrebnyak going well. Coming

through in second place for Ukraine. Anna Kirn -- Onhoura going well. Not

her quickest race, a slight following wind. Another win for the

Dutch. A sustained challenge from Onhoura. Strong points for Britain.

Ten points with a strong run off the bend. Difficult, she ran a very good

bend, terrible run by the Russian in lane three. She will be slower than

the German athlete who won that the race. -- won the other race. Maybe

the following wind was against them. You will have to ask a couple of

them. Maybe against them on the top bend. Good points for them, they are

in a relegation battle. Germany edging one point ahead of

Russia. Fantastic battle at the top. Britain, because of lost points on

the track, down in sixth place. Can this man get some points back?

Phillips Idowu, currently in fourth place. Getting an extra attempt. He

was projected a third-place finish. Just Elizabeth gingerly as he ran

through that jump. -- just a little bit gingerly. He was way over the

board from the very start. That concludes his competition, one valid

jump, a fourth place finish for Great Britain. One lower than

anticipated. Selected for the Commonwealth Games, coming in as the

leading athlete in the field, the only man to jump 16.99, but a fourth

place finish. Viktor Kuznetsov, third place at the

moment. Improving every round. Sorry, improving in the third

round, to 16.53. A gangly run-up. That appears to be a similar

distance for the man from Ukraine. Already setting a season's best. He

won this competition in 2010, ahead of Phillips Idowu, that was a foul,

no improvement from the third round, a season's best though. He

was projected a seventh place finish. You have to remember that

Germany's quest the team title was severely dented by the performance

in this event. He was forecast in fourth, nine valuable points, did

not get in the top four, finishing way down intense. -- down in 10th.

Here is the evergreen Fabrizio Zanotti. -- Fabrizio Donato. 36

years of age. Perhaps not as good, but you have to marvel at his

ongoing performance. Ten years ago finished fourth place in the

competition. Dominant as a national athlete, 16 time champion, indoors

and out. The reigning Olympic bronze medallist. Second place, as

projected. 16.82. Close to his season's best of 16.89. That would

put in fourth on the European list. Here is the winner of the men's

triple jump. Successfully defending his title. 16.85, a season's best by

nine centimetres. In this particular moment, the stadium belongs to him,

people clapping. He waits to begin his run-up. The clock showing 28

seconds, when he must begin his attempt. The pressure is off. He has

delivered on the forecasted score, can really let fly. Seeing if you

can improve on his season's best. Swirling conditions, really going

for it, but not as good. Victorino Chua less for Russia. -- victory,

nonetheless for Russia. Defending the title that he won last year,

getting the points for Russia. When you place that we Germany's poor

showing, that will have a significant impact on the

leaderboard. Warm hearted applause from the German crowd. Polar crashed

out a long time ago. A season's best performance for the Russian. Germany

much That will make it big in pact on the

overall standings, with Russia winning, and generally

disappointing. Disappointing from a British point of view, with

Phillips, 16.37. Not what we would expect? He is struggling to hit the

form that everybody has been talking about in training. As an athlete,

yourself, when you are hitting your mark well in training, and you can't

quite deliver when it matters, in the competition. We can imagine he

is really low, interesting to see what he actually says about the

performance himself. There comes a point, he has comeback this season,

some good results in Australia where he was based over the winter,

jumping 16.89. Confirmation of the results there. You have been a world

champion, a silver medallist, jumping 16.80. You cannot take too

many competitions like that, when you think, what's the point? Not

great for morale or motivation. He is not giving himself an opportunity

to score, because he's having so many no jumps. I think we have to

give him time, we have seen it is not easy to come back, I know it is

not easy to come back once you are injured. At this stage, he may not

even qualified for the European Championships. A bit of a

quandaries. The audience may need to be reminded, you are still the world

record-holder in the chip will -- in the triple jump. What is your

thoughts? On the run-up, not much difference from the Phillips of four

years ago, he is having confidence issues on the board. As soon as you

introduce that uncertainty in your mind, quite difficult

introduce that uncertainty in your the jump. That could be part of the

problem. The other thing, when you have a break, getting your mind up

to speed, the ruthlessness of a competition situation. If you are

just a fraction off, in terms of distancing, it becomes a huge

amount. What we have seen this year, Christian Taylor, coming off a

shorter approach, would that help him? Just to balance himself back

into the competition? Given that he is struggling with his run-up, I

think he needs the long approach, and to prove it in. Hopefully we

will see better from him. Not least in the Commonwealth Games, and there

are less than 50 days to go. That man is the Commonwealth gold

medallist. Mark Lewis Francis gets it. Ian Thorpe getting a standing

ovation. He never gave up, that was magnificent. Commonwealth gold. Here

comes the challenge. It was so close. Johnson wins to Scotland.

You will not miss a second of it, going to be fantastic. A question on

everybody's lips, will be big man be there? Usain Bolt. As of yesterday,

neither Usain Bolt or Johann Blake had submitted applications for the

Jamaican athletics trials. Botha struggling with injury. -- Bolt.

Let's start with Blake, why has he not submitted it? Numerous reasons,

athletes not getting back into the groove of competition. When he was

flying, he was running every day of the week. He was in the groove,

producing wonderful performances. We witnessed a great 200 metres from

him, world champion at 100 metres, he spent all of last season out

injured. What that does to confidence and ability, that can

have a massive knock-on effect. Important he gets back to

competition. When you see his compatriot, Warren Weir, running sub

20 seconds, you don't want to expose yourself. I would like to see him at

the Commonwealth Games. We saw him in Manchester, the City Games. He

had a poor start in New York, at the Diamond League. Shelley and --

Anne-Pryce's fitness also questioned. The Jamaicans tend to

have a three that they use. They don't have the strength in depth

that the United States have. They can be flexible. We talk about these

athletes, Johann Blake, Usain Bolt. You know how much pressure they are

run over the last four years? The amount of gold medals, world best

times they have produced. It can become tiring. To try and repeat it

time and time again, a huge struggle for any athlete. There has to be a

period where they take rest time. Unfortunately for us, the

Commonwealth Games is that season, because they do not have a global

title. Each of those athletes have said, they want to return to do well

at the next World Championship, and onto Rio. They have to take a break.

As you say, going forwards over the next few years, for Bolt, given the

problems he has with his back, the pressure he puts on his long frame,

he's just accepting he is not bothered about this year. Who can

argue and criticise him for wanting to sit back. The fans want to see

him at the Commonwealth Games, at the tournaments, at the

championships, he brings so much, wherever he runs. He commands

attention. He is only human, after all. It is tough delivering that

type of performance year after year. One athlete who will be at the

Commonwealth Games, let's hear from him now.

I am looking for nothing less than first base. A personal best would be

good as well. If I can put my race together, I would expect to. Next

weekend, some athletes have decided this weekend is to close. But you

are straight in there, taking your spot. I have trained hard enough,

and if I cannot do one race a week before the trials, I do not know

what kind of athlete I am. You do the Reds in training, so for me to

do the children to -- for me to do the 200 here, it should not be a

problem. The trials will be really hot next

weekend. Where would you put James in terms of our sprinters? He has

been around for quite a long time. He has been slightly lost in the

euphoria of Adam Gemili breaking onto the scene. He always seems to

be lost, but he is a quality athlete. You can rely on him. He was

churning out 10.1 at quite a regular basis. He beat everybody that was on

the line. It is important that he keeps with it, because he is a

quality athlete, and his time will come, even though he is coming

towards the twilight of his career. He is coming up shortly. Let's speak

to Phillips Idowu. Many did not think we would see you

again, welcome back. Thank you, it is always an honour to put on the

red, white and blue. Today did not go as well as I hoped, extremely

tired, fatigued. But next time, I hope my performance will be better.

Remind us, why did you step from the sport, and what has motivated you to

come back? I needed a break, I needed the text in time to myself. I

had been on the senior team for 14 years, 14 years this year, it is a

long time, and I needed to freshen up, tissue other interests, I spent

a lot of time playing basketball. I feel like I have still got a lot

more in my legs, I have had a few easy competitions, I have shown some

spark of getting back to decent form. I have not quite nailed it

yet, but I will keep pushing on. Today, you say you disappointed, 1.5

metres down, what are you going to work on? Is this year and

experiment, or is there a plan to go forward to the Olympics? I am just

winging it right now. I am enjoying each competition. My first few weeks

this season have gone comfortable you well. I am quite tired,

jet-lagged, possibly. I have got another face to complete for I head

into the Commonwealth Games and on into the Europeans. I know what is

in my legs. I can hopefully show that on the runway. What do you

think is in the legs? 17 metres? 17 metres? I never like to predict.

Whatever it takes to win and get a medal. That is the goal. I am going

well in training, I am enjoying it, so keeping it going. Is it nice to

be back in the team environment? A new, fresh team, different people? I

barely recognise a lot of the athletes. I am the oldest by years

now! It is odd, but we have got some talented guys, it is exciting times

for British athletics, and I am glad I can still be part of it. We look

forward to seeing you for the rest of the season, good luck for the

trials and going forward. What have we learned from that? I

know he is disappointed with his competition, but I do not believe

him. There is a lot of self-doubt. He is winging it, he has no plan.

Sometimes, you spend some time away, you think you can come back, but I

think he has realised it is not as easy as he probably first thought. I

do not want to write him off, but it seems that he is not sure, he does

not know where he is going to go. Is it not OK just to wind it? He has

got no illusions. You cannot do that in athletics, you need a plan. He

sounds like he is keeping his cards close to his chest, but you need to

have a plan, a focus, a goal. He is selected for the Commonwealth Games,

that there was nothing that gave me the impression that he is close to

performing and getting to the 17 metres. He did not even say that he

was aiming for it, he just said that he is

was aiming for it, he just said that training. Interesting to see what is

going to happen. It is going to be a great summer of athletics on the

BBC. It is going to be a busy summer. It

all kicks off next weekend. Those are the trials for the

European Championships. We have seen a bit of triple jump

today. There have been some quite good moments in the past.

The first round record-breaking jump of Jonathan Edwards, one of the

longest of all time, but just over the allowable wind limit. He is

superbly confident. Tremendous speed again. Oh, my goodness, that is

huge! That has got to be over 18 metres. Only two jumpers in the

history of the event have been over 18. Jonathan Edwards, a smile from a

man who is totally dominating this event today. Only two men have ever

jumped further. 18.43, that is over 60 feet. Jonathan Edwards has

produced a remarkable jump. Whether the wind speed reading is illegal or

not, it is the longest jump ever seen in the history of track and

field. It is not going to can for anything

at the end of the season, I will just keep my head down and hopefully

become the world champion. I will keep my head down and hopefully,

come Gothenberg, be standing on the podium.

It is not just Phillips Idowu that can rock the baseball cap, I can do

that! What was I thinking? I was coming back from somewhere when I

saw the result. Another year when you did not compete! I thought, have

they got those figures correct? I could not believe that. To finish

off with that hat says it all! You must be in Paris! I am really

embarrassed. It is a big peak! I was ahead of my time, at the time! Your

celebration was so call. What were you feeling? I could not believe it.

A bit like you! My personal best was 17.58, I had broken the British

record a couple of weeks before, and I jumped 18.43, it was like an out

of body experience. I came back to where we were, and they were looking

at me... How? What? It was mad. It is like Bob Beamon. Well done!

Enough of that! Enough of baseball caps! The men's 200 metres, James

Ellington hoping to do his stuff. We have met some of the athletes who

made the contenders against James Ellington, this is one of these. The

Polish athlete was in lane four, James Ellington is in-line six.

Although he will want to get good points, it is a tough race, very

open. We have not seen Churandy Martina of the Netherlands. This man

on the outside, raw milk earlier, now running for Turkey, the former

Azerbaijani athlete. Some of the danger will be inside James

Ellington. Definitely the German and the poll. The European under 23

champion last year. Just behind Jimmy Vicault in his last race. No

Christophe Lemaitre. He had to pull out with injury during the week.

Jimmy Vicault not available, after having won the 100 metres. Is the

way open for James Ellington? Churandy Martina, fifth in the

Olympics, seventh at the World Championships last year, in lane

three, going for the Netherlands. Always a danger.

James Ellington stumbled a little bit, but hopefully OK. Ramil Guliyev

got a parable start. The German being cheered on.

Ramil Guliyev might have just got there, or did the Polish athlete

Holbein? James Ellington third, very tight on the line.

The poll got shocking start. He does not

The poll got whether he has one. The Polish

athlete had it five metres out, Ramil Guliyev finished like a

bullet. That is no pun intended, because there is a runner from

Turkey with that name. But the Polish athlete has been given it.

Ramil Guliyev, 0.01 seconds behind. James Ellington third. What a

finish. This was a race that saw James Allington collared. The Polish

athlete just got through, with Ramil Guliyev also challenging.

Disappointment for James Ellington, he seemed to be going strongly of

the bend. There was evidence of a slight stumble soon after the start,

but he seemed to override that and close down on Ramil Guliyev

initially, but Ramil Guliyev edged him out in the closing stages. 20.60

seconds for James Ellington. That is how close it was. It is an important

victory for Poland, who are strengthening their position in

third place overall. We will tidy up the result in a second.

Talk through the race. We saw a stumble, edit all over the place. I

am disappointed, I should have won that race. I had a stumble at the

beginning. I felt like I picked up all right coming off the bend. I

almost felt like I was losing my balance, coming down the home

straight. Not the result I would have wanted, I should have one. Have

you ever felt that the four? -- that before? I would like to sales

running so fast, I fell over, but that was not really cutting it. For

the first four five steps I was trying stay on my feet, maybe too

much energy off the bend, paying for it later. You have put some points

in the bag, a third there, the relay win. Next up the British

Championships? Yes, next week, that should be fun. Going to be a good

race. People like Adam, many great athletes. It will be one of the

hottest Championships Britain has ever seen? Are you ready to get your

place? Definitely. James Ellington on good form in the interview, not

quite such good form on the track. Always hard when you do not start

well. Trying to gain the Minton back. Like you said, very unsettled

down the home straight. Sometimes... A masterclass in

sprinting is relaxation. We are seeing the start, and he is just

having to work harder on the bend, to catch up to make sure he is in

contention. You are supposed to try and relax, and he is overrated. --

over rotating. People at home, they will be watching, thinking what

happens in the first few strides influencing what happens in the last

few strides? You are using energy on every level, when you are pushing

out the blocks, you are trying to respond, it changes momentum. It

takes away your focus, at the back end of the race, when you are

thinking about putting your shoulders back, relaxing, you are

using energy thinking about stumbling out of the blocks, being

in a bad position off the turn. It goes through your head. That is one

of the major reasons why he started to over rotate. He seemed confident,

off the back of it. I didn't win, I didn't run quick, there is more

there. He feels he can do the business going into the trials. A

very confident interview, he did look good until he started to tie

up. He has to to be ready, the trials are very important next week.

Let's hope he does well. Let's take a look at the results of that 200

metres. Overall, what does it mean? There

has been a lot going on, how does that translate into the overall

positions? Yesterday Danny Talbot finished

second, he has been speaking to Catherine. Points for yourself

yesterday, a second-place finish, you have just been watching James

Ellington over the 200 metres, give us your thoughts? I think it was a

solid run, he might have made a few mistakes, that is why he is racing

one week before the trials, so he does not do that next week. I know

he will put down a solid run next week. He has put down some

consistent times, and he will do that at the British Championships.

There is such exciting depth in men's sprinting, those trials will

be on fire? They will definitely be on fire. You saw yesterday in

Bedford, the junior girls running exceptionally fast. I'm sure a few

of them will do that at the British Championships. The men will

hopefully step up as well as the senior ladies. Seeing some very fast

times next week, everyone trying to get to Zurich. You brought in 11

points yesterday, what was the mood like, fourth place? It is great, we

came third last year, you could say it is a more experienced team, to be

in fourth place this season, challenging where we were last

season, that is great. There are 11 debutants in the team. Very nice. A

young team, we have all been in age group championships together, we'll

get on really well. The more senior guys are helping the younger guys

out. A great environment. What is it like somebody who has not competed,

goes back to the hotel? Are they embarrassed when they don't get as

many points as they should have? I hope not. Every point matters. Maybe

they should feel embarrassed, and no person should. If they do not

perform to their best, it does not matter, they have done their country

proud. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Time for a few more European cup golden moments. No embarrassments in

the studio in prospect. Roger Black running a storming race.

Ewan Thomas, the distance is astonishing. Mark Richardson on the

anchor leg. A great win by an enormous margin. The British men are

the European champions. You are all going to run the trials? I am not

looking forward to that. It gets serious. As from right now. They

went on to win the world title in Athens. A great performance from the

guys, interesting hairstyles. I see Jamie quite a bit, I am so pleased

he has cut his hair. He looked a little bit like a poodle. He knows

it, I warned him. The women's four x 400 metres, we talked about Jodie

Williams, they have put her in the relay. Your thoughts? Everybody

seems excited, I am the only one he seems a bit scared. I have always

wanted to take part in the longer relay. This is my chance to see if I

can do anything it goes terribly wrong, I will not be part of the

team again. People have said my style is very well suited to 400

metres. People have suggested I should step up. I will give it a go,

see how it goes. I am not promising anything! I think it will be give,

interesting. I am so used to being the baby, this time I am experienced

runner. It is good to give the young athletes the chance to compete, to

see what it is like at this level. It will be really good. If she runs

a storming leg, we will be saying she should step up? As we always do.

Her all-time hero is Allyson Felix, no doubt she will have watched her

progressing from 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. When you

have someone like her you look up to. You think she has done it, why

should I not have a go? She has a lot to prove over 100. You have to

remember, she is coming back from a serious injury, 2012 she got

injured, lying in a heap on the floor. She has had to rebuild her

confidence, as one of the most exciting prospects in British

women's sprinting, she has had to regain her position, I think she has

established itself very well this year. Showing how confident she is

going forward. To dabbling into territory is unknown. One athlete

who has nothing to prove, Christine Ohuruogu. We will see her in the

Commonwealth Games, from the performance we saw in New York. It

is not the Christine we are used to. We always put pressure on her major

championships. Quite simply because she goes out, she gets medals, she

wins titles. She is right at the back of the field, that surprised

everybody, somebody who has been an Olympic champion and world champion.

Interesting to see what she feels about how seriously she has taken

the season. She's an athlete who trains had, she does not like to put

in poor performances. She will be thinking, I need to do this, I need

to do that, to get the performance I need. That was a hugely poor

performance. She's never motivated by the circuit, all about

Championships. Was she trying to try herself out? It is a great

competition to be involved in. Christine has set her stall out,

from the beginning of the season, saying, don't expect too much. I had

an amazing season last year, my body needs a bit of a rest. I want to

keep training, I will see what I have got. She has participated in

doors, not too many individuals. She is only going to the Commonwealth

Games for the four x 400 metres. We should not concentrate on her. She's

in a new phase, looking for new challenges, new motivation.

Currently trying a few things out in training. Good to have her in the

relay. A mentoring role? Absolutely, talking to Jodie, this is how you

should approach it. It will be very painful. Having that experience

around you, rubbing shoulders, that will make a difference to everybody.

A lot of athletes look up to Christine, they have seen her trials

and tribulations, how she came through, how she gets it right when

it matters. That pulls a lot of weight. Not doing the individual

Commonwealth games, but one person who is, Mo Farah, the double Olympic

champion. We can go Braunschweig. The marathon dream is over. Back to

what he's good at? I would not say that. I think he wanted to run the

marathon comedy did, I believe in the training that he did come in

preparing for that, that will stand him in good stead, and we will see

the benefits on the track this season. It is a very good sign,

turning round on recovering and running well on the track. A very

good sign he came out in his first race, winning very convincingly,

showing he lost none of his speed with a 53 second last lap. He was

coming to Glasgow to do the double. He would be the first person to hold

the double 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, European, Olympic, and

Commonwealth titles. That would be amazing. You talk about the marathon

being a good preparation, but he's a different kind of athlete, his

strength is his speed. We saw what he ran with a 1500 metres in Monaco.

Could it have taken the edge off his electric kick? No, I don't believe

that. He is a very different athlete to myself. He has achieved much more

on the track. I think the marathon was something that any distance

runner growing up in Britain, especially in London, you want to

run the marathon, to see what he can do. He still ran a good time, it was

not a failure. At the moment he is the best in the world on the track

over 5000 and 10,000 metres, and he wants to come back to it. I still

think he has unfinished business, and will come back to the marathon

in the future. In terms of our expectation, this double gold. Is

that realistic? The canyons will be very strong? -- Kenyans. It is

realistic, I believe he is the best in the world, if they allow him to

control the races, as he did in Moscow and London, I believe he has

the strength gained from the marathon training, which I think

will improve his speed. His legs will be that much stronger, the body

will be that much stronger. As he comes into the familiar territory in

the last lap. I do not think he will have lost his kick. In the

Commonwealth Games, it is easier, you will not have heats in the 5000.

Absolutely. Commentating on the women's 5000 metres coming up. A

quick chat about Mo, do you think the marathon was tougher than he

thought? I think you have hit the nail on the head. Sometimes you do

not know. It seemed quite early, we know he can put down amazing times

over five and 10,000 metres. When you are in your prime you have to

explore all opportunities. Going to the marathon seemed a little early.

You know, he is fantastic, he's great. A bonus to have a mini

Commonwealth Games. Certainly is. Time to get back to Braunschweig.

The women's 5000 metres. Beth Potter representing Britain, a

late replacement for Julia Bleasdale, who has a slight knee

problem. The Russian is one of the most

prominent athletes, expected to be close to the lead in the closing

stages. Here is the race favourite, Meraf Bahta, formerly of Eritrea.

She fled via Spain to Sweden in 2009 and acquired Swedish citizenship in

January. She has been cleared to represent Sweden. She is here with a

great chance of victory in the 5000 metres, she is the quickest in the

field so far in 2014. Dolores Checa from Spain. The Dutch athlete, last

year's European junior champion. A lot is expected of her this year. On

the outside, Sabrina Mockenhaupt. She is one of the best athletes so

far this season and on pedigree across the years. This should be a

closely contested race. The prediction for Beth Potter is eighth

place and five points. Yes, a prediction for Beth Potter is eighth

baptism of fire for Beth Potter, a late replacement for Julia

Bleasdale. She suffered a nickel to her knee in swerving to avoid a dog

on a training run. Hopefully, it is nothing serious. Beth has stepped in

at late notice. It will be tough for her, she will not have been looking

for this at this time. Straight to the front goes Meraf Bahta. She

leads the European list. But she is not doing a lot, it is pretty much

marathon pace, nobody came to take on the lead and do very much.

Sabrina Mockenhaupt, enjoying the home crowd support on the start

line. She is a well loved figure in Germany, she would love to follow

the lead of Arne Gabius and her other compatriot from earlier and

take advantage of the home support and do something today. Heading

around in almost pedestrian style. Meraf Bahta in the lead, part of the

changing face of European athletics, so many immigrants representing

adopted countries. She was born in Eritrea, we have seen if Europeans

and Kenyon is today representing Turkey. Beth Potter in seventh or

eighth place, on the outside of the Ukrainian, who also should be very

close, come the closing stages. The Polish athlete going round the

outside. You get the sense that it will be a slow, tactical affair,

they have been in many of the distance races here so far.

Difficult for Beth Potter. These races are uncomfortably close

to the British trials next week, the trials for the European

Championships, just a week or so after the Commonwealth Games. In the