Day 1, Part 1 Athletics: European Indoor Championships

Welcome to Gothenburg in Sweden, a city with a sporting past to be

proud of. In 1950 it was host for the Football World Cup and 40 euros

in 1992. John Curry and Robin Cousins have won gold medals here.

The story continues this weekend, the 32nd European Athletics Indoor

Championships. An event which has always been a happy hunting ground

Gothenburg looking resplendent in the sunshine. We are ready for the

next chapter in the European Athletics Indoor Championships. A

reputation for hosting major European events. The Scandinavian

arena is where we off. -- Scandinavium Arena. This hosted the

eurovision song contest back in 1985.

This is what is coming up this Some of the highlights of this

Good morning to Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson alongside me. First

of all, a busy morning, the first championships since the Olympic

Games, and a new man in charge, Peter Eriksson takes up the baton.

Here you are, head coach, in your home country of Sweden, your first

major championships in this role. It is great. I haven't been home

for many years, it is great to be the first championships, this is

what you are waiting for. The bigger event. We have a great team

to do well. When you come back to Sweden, to

memories of that time come flooding back?

Not really. It is more, when I come home, this is always home to me, is

that you see the city, you recognise anything, anything looks

the same but nothing is really the same. I have changed, everything

else has changed, in the 27 years I have gone. It is tough, you feel

like a stranger in your own town. I must bring you to the present day

and this weekend in Gothenburg. You talk about the team, having high

hopes. You have gone for a team which has people in there with top

six potential across the board. That is what UK sport and lottery

funding is investing in, in performance, when it comes to major

events. As you can see, we have a very young team. And, it is a good

team. A good coaching and support staff, I am really positive. Will

you set medal targets corrupt? All will it be something you will be

looking at and, in terms of the overall picture? This is a new

coaching staff. Are we doing better than before? Did everybody perform

at their best? This is important to start the year. Just do better.

Better than Paris two years ago, eight medals? To do better than

that. In this air of optimism, after the Olympics? We have a young

team, we have to be optimistic, it is a lot of pressure on the team

with so many youngsters. I do not see that is a stumbling stone for

doing well. You can hope for medals. But, I just want the best from them.

That is how we are going to evaluate it on. You have had a

fantastic success with the Great Britain Paralympics team, London

2012. A quote here, he is our friend as well as our coach, but he

knows when to be scary as well, at a winning formula! I do not know

what to say about that! Scary. I can tough -- be tough when I need

to be tough. I have to be. Otherwise... You would be

steamrollered all of the time. Really nice for Peter Eriksson

coming back to his home country for his first championships as UK head

coach. What a different personality he is

from Charles. A isn't he just. Mild mannered in nature, very warm,

very generous, on the occasions I have spoken to him. He has to

establish himself, a new change of management, new team. He has to

stamp his authority for the success of the team.

It will certainly be a different approach for the athlete to get

used to. Charles was uncompromising, not afraid of calling a spade a

spade or even worse. Peter, a different approach.

He has a more lovely approach which some of the athletes will find

strange. He is breaking down the barriers of a them and us scenario.

He wants a genuine feeling of being a team to help athletes perform to

the best of their ability. So Steve Cram and Paula Radcliffe

are in the commentary box, good morning.

We are loving it up here. A good vantage point.

We were talking about that change in culture. It will be very

different with Peter. A very different character.

Obviously, it's not just the athletes. We talk about the

athletes a lot. Peter has to work with the coaches, there has been a

lot of turmoil, people put into new positions, people have lost

positions. So, Peter has a job to keep everybody feeling part of the

team still, feeling as if they are contributing. Often, where

communication stops. You have to include the coaches as well.

It is the way you motivate athletes as well. Charles would show people

what they needed to do, being forthright. Peter it is going for

that father figure. That approach, where the athlete can prove

themselves. The interesting thing is, no murder

of targets. He talks about getting the best from the athletes which

already seems to be a contrast to Charles. He set the number of

medals. I think the problem with that, as

we all know, sports are judged by their output. They receive lottery

funding to win medals. You cannot keep saying, we will do as well as

we can. They will at some point tell UK Sport what they are aiming

for. Not just here, but in World Championships and Olympic Games.

The individual athletes will know what their targets are. We hope the

team wins lots of medals. But it is really down to the individual. What

they have to engender is British athletes can win medals at the

Olympic Games, World Championships, particularly here. It is a small

team. They have said from the outset, it is about getting into

the top six and winning medals. This British team going forward

from the Olympics has to be one which is led from the top who is

saying, we expect you to do well and when medals.

Peter Eriksson talked about the team, average age of 22 years old.

Let us have a look at it and see It is a good, strong team, even

though it is small, there is a lot of potential. Looking at the 400m,

we could easily get two medals. 800 metres as well. The relay, a gold

medal. Robbie Grabarz can go higher, he could possibly win it. It is a

good, solid team. If you want medals, this is the type of team

you have to pick, I think. Paula Radcliffe, there is a big gap

between the 800 metres and 4x400 metres worthy 1,500m might have

been. You have been vociferous about who should or should not have

been selected. Coming into these championships, it

is very much a stepping-stone to the World Championships. It is all

very well to pick people horrid top eight possibility. There are young

athlete who could have come here and used it as a stepping stone. In

middle distance, they could have been in there. That expense could

have been invaluable. A I would like to chip in a little

bit. It is about winning medals here. Any programme is about

development going forward. A medallist going forward. You have

to learned this game, come to major jab bishops in the senior ranks.

Not everyone can come here and win medals. You can wind the back --

the clock back to 1994, when we saw youngsters winning medals.

Event Andrew Osagie, two years ago, was lucky to be selected. Taking a

chance on these kinds of people. Denise Lewis, you are nodding

vigorously. What do you make about this new talent?

As you say, this is a stepping stone for a lot of the athletes.

You have to use it. It would be nice to know that British Athletics

had set their stall out from the beginning of the year to say, we

need to rebuild after 2012, the pressure was on us as a team, we

have delivered really well. Now, it is about the next generation, the

rising stars, the build up to Rio, and it starts with competitions

like this. We would like to see athletes. More athletes here, that

was my first impression. If let us take a look at the

women's team now. Denise Lewis, your reaction to these elections?

For again, a very strong women's team, I think. Looking at the

women's 400m, maybe two Murdoch chances. Holly Bleasdale and Shara

Proctor, they really should be fighting for those hurdles.

Generally, a very solid team. Nice to see Jenny Meadows taking the

opportunity to race. The 4x400m relay, if we don't get a medal, I

will be very surprised. That is a very strong team,

especially with Perri Shakes- Drayton of running so strongly, and

Christine Ohuruogu. That is a formidable quartet.

We know the Russians will be strong but outing should be aiming for his

gold medal. I am keen to take a look at how

Britain has done in the past decade in these championships, to give a

context for the indoor chances for the team. Immediately post Olympic

Games. Four medals, 2009. Should we bring

our expectations of lower? This team is hungry. They have the

ability of winning medals, they will deliver what we expect of them.

Just because they are not vocalising how many medals they are

expecting, they will be disappointed if the team do not

come home with seven medals. It is team has been very different.

They've been encouraged to expect more from themselves in terms of

performance. Definitely on the European stage. I'd expect them to

do really well. Peter Eriksson talked about doing at least as well

as Paris. What we've asked is the expert pundit to give their

predictions. We will see what they was feeling optimistic! I think we

should be looking for medals from Holly, Perri Shakes-Drayton, the

two 4 x4 relays. Let's think Helen Clitheroe a couple of years ago,

how she shocked everyone in that 3000m. There's got to be another

Are you regretting that now? No, I think honestly I've gone a little

bit with what I'd like to see happen as well. I've gone for Jenny

in the 800m because I'd love to see her return and winning medal, after

the year she went through last year. In the men's 800m, I definitely

think a medal is possible there. I think the women's 400m, too, and

then gold shots in both relays. They've been doing this TV thing

for a long time, Steve Cram and CJ, they've gone conservative. Because

we've been doing this for a long time, we are not stupid enough to

stick our necks out and be shown up at the end of the weekend. That's

pretty much what it is. Denise has gone out there really positive,

Paul is new to the game. We are wise old men. Predictions, it we

were that clever we'd all be down the bookies, I'd be predicting

sporting outcomes for the whole of this weekend and elsewhere as well.

It's a bit of fun. It's a bit of a stab at what we hope might happen.

What we made the expect to happen. It does reflect. It will be a good

Championships for Great Britain. Not because we have a brilliant

team, it's a good team, but this is post-Olympic year. There are a lot

of other nations like Great Britain who haven't sent their big stars.

There will be some new names coming through, that will be great to see

them develop over the next few years. We are going to be sitting

quite well here. You get measured on the table by gold medals. It

Denise is right, we'll probably be top of the table. Two or three gold

medals would be a good result. will keep track of those

predictions during the course of the weekend and see who was right

We can hear from Jenny Meadows now. It's great to have her back on the

team after an injury ravaged 2012. It's great to see you because when

we spoke in Birmingham, you ran well, you said you had to talk to

your coat, but whether you would compete - what was the discussion

after? After Wright crossed the line I felt really tired. I thought,

I don't want to do that any time soon. Then I thought, you know,

it's probably exactly what I do need to do. It's completely

different training and racing, you have to be race-fit. We decided we

didn't want to leave the three months until the start of the

outdoor season. It would will reveal another couple of weeks

until the championships. It shows the kind of esteem you are held

within in UK Athletics that you've been made the captain as well. If

the fantastic honour. When Peter asked me, I accepted straightaway.

Two weeks ago I never believed I was in this championship and as a

captain, so what really positive. How about going in there as

defending champion? Yes. I've never gone into a Championships as

defending champion before. I'm not sure realistically what my chances

are. But certainly I take it very seriously. I am the defending

champion. I definitely won't let that title slip easily. Boy you,

this championship, how would you put into perspective what success

would be for you? Having had that long road back from injury to get

to this point. The cut will say the reason for you doing it is to

practise your mental skills, really go through the whole scenario. A

lot of people see as giving the race on television but it's all the

build-up. You get a lot of nerves beforehand. The warm-up area can be

quite daunting sometimes. Just to go through the whole routine is

really important for me. I am a competitor. I will be trying my

best, trying to defend my title. A lot of people wouldn't at -- expect

it, I'm only ranked 7th or eighth going into the race, but I'd be

really disappointed if I wasn't on the podium. Certainly a turnaround

for Jenny Meadows. When she turned out at Birmingham, almost get a run

in her legs, she ran better than anticipated, and here she is

talking about the podium. I don't think Jenny would put herself on

the line if she didn't really believe in her heart that a podium

finish is possible. She ran well, she ran confidently, the way we are

used to seeing her run. I do think, looking at the list, if she can get

herself close to that two minute mark, it's not going to be easy,

Benji is in with a good shot. great to have her back. A horrible

year for her last year. She'd been building up, she was always in the

mix for medals. Then a horrible time with her Achille -- her

Achilles problem. It's an absolute nightmare. Every athlete hates

getting injured. But when you lose a whole season and you dream of

being an Olympian on your home turf, absolutely shattering. It was

lovely to see her return and return in such a positive way. She wasn't

frightened, she went up there and has competed well. I'm looking

forward to her going through all of these grounds and in each race we

will see an improvement from Jenny Meadows. I'm pretty sure she won't

be far off that podium. She is the defending Chaplin, we can look back

defending Chaplin, we can look back to that race in 2011. Defending

champion, although she finished in second place. The Russian who beat

her was banned for a doping violation, as was the Russian who

finished in third place. So Marion Okoro had been upgraded to a bronze

medal. Interestingly enough, in a Radio 5 Live interview, Peter

Eriksson did talk about the issue with Russians and drug-taking. 33

athletes at the moment currently A lot of people do speculate, they

do point the finger to the Russians. But it's very surprising that Peter

Eriksson would be so bold to make that statement ahead of these

championships. He will really put the Russians under the Spotlight

here. If you look at the 800m, of the European rankings this year

we've got 10 Russians filling those spots, yet they only sent one of

their girls here. It's interesting. Let's go to the commentary box and

speak to Paul and Steve on this. Oh, they are not here. I'll come to you,

Colin. The Russians do have to get their act together. What is

surprising for me, you'd think you would learn by a mistake. When you

think one, two, three members of your team are getting caught,

perhaps you'd think, you know what, perhaps I'd better Steer clear of

this nonsense now because we are tested and people are getting

caught. That surprises me. They haven't really thought about it.

Let's be honest, we hope it doesn't become an epidemic in Russia now,

where drug-taking becomes the norm to get on a team. Let's hope

they've learnt their lesson now and can get out there and compete as

clean athletes. Shara Proctor is going in the women's long jump

qualification. Before we catch up with her, let's go back to 1984. We

would Kieran Goss -- Gothenburg, at six metres 70. That's another

one that surely must challenge the and girl at six metres 55. She

falls back a little bit at the end qualified for the final with a 6.70.

Shara Proctor getting ready for her attempt to get into the final.

Initially, I didn't have the Europeans in my plans. I just

wanted to go out there and get a couple of competitions, get the

rhythm down and get back to training for Moscow, because that's

the big plan. I just so happened... It's another opportunity for me to

get my name in the books and do a good job. I saw you perform so

wonderfully well in Berlin, that place is obviously special in your

heart now because you set a British record there. What does that kind

of meeting and jumped to for your confidence? In practice, I see that

I can go far. But doing it in competition is just special. I just

love competing in the Birmingham arena. It's amazing. The crowd is

amazing. They give me that extra energy to go further. It wasn't the

British record but it was good enough to qualify for the Europeans.

Now you are here in Gothenburg, do you have a feeling there's nothing

to lose, this is a bonus, something you cannot plant, whatever comes

comes? It is a bonus. Hopefully I will get a gold medal. I will come

Before she can think about a medal, she has to follow -- qualified for

the final. Paul Dickinson can bring us up to date with the early stages

that's allowed in the qualifying competition. 6.65 is what is

required to make it automatically through to the final. Not a bad

take-off. The yellow line that superimposed is the automatic

qualifying. It looks a little bit short of that. Having said that, I

can't imagine eight women jumping 6.65 for further, judging from the

entry list. Shara Proctor won a bronze medal in the world indoor

championships last year. She smashed the British record.

Subsequently finished 9th in the Olympic final. 6.61, the longest

jump so far. Looking in good shape Looks about the same sort of

distance that Shara Proctor achieved a few moments ago. Nobody

has achieved the automatic qualifying distance so far. We had

a long succession of false. Shara Proctor remains the longest jumper

Europe this season indoors. Made massive improvements to win a world

championship silver medal a few years ago. She, too, falls shy of

She gets the white flag, that's place at the moment. 6.38. She, too,

will have to jump again. The automatic qualifying distance is

has jumped 7.05 outdoors, 6.80 indoors this season. Still not

very close to the automatic qualifying distance. By the time

the final comes tomorrow, I'm sure a lot of people will be jumping

take-off again there. It's not bad, it's 6.62. That is the longest

jumps so far, one centimetre ahead last year. A wild style. 24 years

I think. Very smooth. But, the jump was off-balance, I am sure there is

tall Frenchman closest to the camera, the fastest in the field. A

little bit inconsistent. World indoor bronze last year. He needs

win back on, it really good performance. He looked really good

there. He had a great run at the French championships with a

personal best. That is one of the best he has managed away from those

French Indoor Championships. He looked fairly comfortable as well.

Lopez got away very well as well. They go through to the next round.

Just watch the Frenchman. He is not always the best out of the blocks

event, the first time since 1996, a long time ago. Maybe Colin Jackson

was one of his many holidays spent! Do you see much of this young

French man? COLIN JACKSON: I have been looking

forward to seeing him perform. He is not very aggressive out of the

blocks. He is clean and smooth once performance firmly in the morning.

No mistakes. A quick question. His first race,

he ran 7.98. When you were running, did you get quicker?

When I broke the world record, I got faster at the end of the season.

Sometimes, you have to get into your group. Now, when it matters,

he is delivering. That is going to be pretty close

events, the best Europeans this year. Sergei Shubenkov is many

people's favourite but the sky is not far away.

The semi-finals are tonight at Very smooth and rangy. The French

have a great addition with men's and women's hurdles. This looks

like another one to joined that long list.

He was very slowed but not as smooth as fouled Colin Jackson,

He wasn't as fast as his semi-final. He says, I made hard work of that!

The Jackson got away very well. Under pressure but he takes it, a

blocks brilliantly, storming down in a semi-final qualification but

Colin Jackson is the European indoor hurdles champion for a

second time. You were very good, weren't you?

By I got lucky at a couple of Championships, that's all! It was

always very competitive for me, in the sprint and hurdles. The

European indoors, it was a good grounding for me to learn under

pressure. You would probably say that world

record you had, indoors, the 60m hurdles, was much stronger than

your outdoor record? I would always agree, 7.30, that was a tough call.

I took six hundredths of a second from the world record. It was

better than my others. It is a different day into line-up against

sprinters. If yes, 6.4 denied was my best, when I won in Paris. I was

always competitive. Alight ruffling the feathers of the sprinters, I

knew I was half decent. I loved that. The second heat of the 60m

Pascal Martinot Lagarde in the first heat, 7.58. The first three,

and four fastest losers. The final Indoor Championships. This is a

Not the height of some hurdlers, but most likely the man to catch

here. 7.59, this season. His running in this heat, this season.

The Spaniard there, who once competed for Ecuador. Buhler, a

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men's 60m hurdles. The first three cleanly. Going according to form

pretty much. Baiazs Baji looked as if he came through to take it.

COLIN JACKSON: Always very close. Veggie macro, I think, just took it

past the Russian -- Baji. Once you get into your groove, it makes a

morning for the hurdlers, they haven't quite got into their group.

You have to get used to the track losers will also go through,

in second place, behind Darya Klishina. Just one centimetre

separating them. A foul in the first round, that looks a little

better and she gets the white flag. She won't have the added pressure

coming into the third round. That looks much better. Good height.

Just short of the qualifying distance. But, ahead of what would

constitute 8th place, and it is eight ladies who will make it

through to the final tomorrow. Centre for in the first round --

Denyaeva. She looks as if she is in the top eight, she gets the white

flag. Shara Proctor it is still lying in second place. Nobody has

surpassed her. That was produced in the first round. Apart from the

Done further outdoors than she has indoors. That looks good actually,

very close to the sort of distance that Shara Proctor achieved. It has

just come up on the scoreboard that actually Shara Proctor has passed

her second round jump. I think she is of the opinion has 6.6 to one is

going to be enough to put her through to the final. Jarder is

delighted with her jump. A big lifetime best for her, in the

second heat in the 60m hurdles. Not as quick as the first heat. We

shall see who goes through as the fastest loser.

Wouldn't have a chance to show you the final result from that first

heat, let us remind ourselves, it close as the first two. Going in

lane seven, the man, as I said, very much the favourite for the

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We've lost that Ukrainian. 7.52. That's pretty shop for the first

runs on a couple of occasions, but that is pretty sharp. Talk about

his style, really low. Wheelie could, make him more aggressive in

to bat first hurdle, set himself up better. At 752 - match but 7.52 is

time, you can sometimes take some risks. When you do take those risks

you end up a bit cleaner. For me, he's not under pressure, he can put

a nice, decent performance out. You can't ask for much more at this

time of the day. He is Europe's number one. He's round at 7.50.

He's confident. But he also would have seen that first heat and said

to himself, hang on, I am the main from the young Russian. We were

talking about the Russians earlier, about the sort of Championships

they may have. They've got a slightly weakened team here. They

will be looking to the likes of qualifying distance of 6.65 yet. I

just wonder if that's an improvement. It does look as though

it is. -- it doesn't look as though it is. Kucherenko, 6.48 in the

first round. She's way behind the board. She's lost 20 centimetres

plus. That is quite decisive. She needs to put it all into a third

round jump to make sure she gets a indoor champion. 6.62 in the first

round. Backstays as the longest jump we've seen so far this morning.

Didn't really get the take-off spot on there. It looked a little bit

flat. Judging by her reaction when she came out of the pit, she knew

that wasn't terribly good. A couple of jumpers behind her in the

standings at the moment, including Shara Proctor, decided to pass on

their second jumps. Klishina still she's sitting comfortably in the

top eight, that will get her through to the final tomorrow.

She's just waiting to see whether a few of the athletes go further.

Let's talk about the context of this competition for work. She had

a great year last year, world indoor bronze medal. Then the real

disappointment of London. Yes, she jumped so well in the

qualifications in London. I think she got a bit overawed by the

occasion. I think she was thinking about the outcome before the final.

So she then did and jumped well in the final, finished fifth. She

could have meddled there. But she's such a good run on the runway.

Noticing some of the girls have similar inaccuracies on the runway,

she is spot on the board. She's having no problems with her one up

6.61, that was automatic qualification, 6.65. No athletes so

This is an important competition for her, after what happened in

London, she will really want to come here and make an impact.

at it. She knows she can jump big distances, but what is missing is

the medals. I think this could really set her up nicely for the

rest of the season, should she make fastest losers. Around about 7.76

will get you in at the moment if the Italians have coming through at

first three heats and the form of Martinot-Lagarde and Shubenkov.

heats. You want to qualify, you want to save a little bit of energy,

you want to look impressive to the other competitors have gone so far.

But also, technique needs to be spot on. Any little slippy and you

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start of the day. Bascou seemed to get out there pretty sharpish.

Bascou is the main form guy from France. He's the one we'd all look

forward to being the number one from that country. It's the Italian

what they're going to do with that. I think everybody is waiting to see

what the marksman decides. Bascou is trying to look as small as

possible here, hiding behind some of the other athletes. For on the

computer it's not coming up as a false start, but we could see him

twitch. Bascou wants the finger but the grim Reaper has come for him.

It's not coming up as a false start and he's trying to plead his case,

but we know that this is a lost cause. The rule is you've got to be

stationary in the blocks when the starter it puts you in that set

position. There's not supposed to be any movement whatsoever. We saw

clearly that he moved. Let's see if he can argue or negotiate himself

like his negotiation powers have allowed him back in. He will be

relieved. Let's hope that he can just focus now one what he needs to

do and qualifies. The next time I'm up in court, I want him to be my

John Drummond when he was trying his little heart out, just sat

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there on the track eventually and for the minor places, but no doubt

about the winner. Paolo Audel great start by the Italian. Put

pressure on everybody straightaway. He's clattering barriers on his way

down. Incredible. A Askou is going to have to wait because his

opponents just seemed to sneak through ahead of him. -- Bascou.

7.59 for the winner. Look at the Italian here. Untidy trail leg,

he's dragging those barriers down with that trail leg, but it doesn't

matter, he gets to the line first. An equal personal best of 7.59. A

strong performance. We had confirmation of the times. I think

Bath School survived his false start, he survived here as well as

one of the fastest losers, 7.72 his the full results as and when we get

for this qualification in the eliminated. But with that jump, I

think she could have put herself in quite a strong position. The best

so far, 6.46. Needs something close to 6.60 to guarantee she goes

through to the final. She might well have done it with that. Shara

Proctor, it remains to be seen whether she's going to take a third

and final jump. She passed on round final, at the moment. That was a

tremendous take-off. She gets the white flag. Danny macro. She is

into a qualifying position now -- She is in 7th place, but there are

still a lot of jumpers to come in this third and final round.

The let us tidier things for you, this is how they finished. -- tidy

looking very good. As his Pascal participants in the men's 60m

It has been a great indoor season for you so far, word you pitch your

is nice coming into the European Athletics Indoor Championships. At

the end of the day, it counts what you do on the day, no matter what

fast time someone may have been running. Someone may come out of

nowhere. I have to do what I usually do, not become complacent.

You have shot up the list of the best UK times, up of all time. Have

I work hard, I trained hard with my coach, he wants the best for me.

The times, be surprised me, maybe. I am running pretty quick. You

always seem to want more, as an faster. I accept I am happy with

lot to prove after the disappointment of last summer,

this heat. A newly-laid track, more of that in a moment. Not too

difficult qualification for Perri Shakes-Drayton. She is on the

outside. The first two will go be something which might even help

Perri Shakes-Drayton. Hjelmer recently running a personal

YouTube, 400m indoors is two laps - - is new to you. You have to make a

choice, you either get in front and control it from there, or sit

behind. Hjelmer is not close enough. This is pretty quick through the

first 200, given this is a qualification round. She can relax

a bit but not too much. In great form this winter. She set her stall

out to do well individually on the flat, not just wanted to be part of

the relay squad. A really strong performance from her in the first

round. That is not a bad start at all. She could have sauntered

around bet in 53 seconds, to be honest. That looked fairly

Eilidh Child is going in heat three. metres. A good rehearsal. When she

goes through the rounds, she will come up against better competition.

She will want to take how she goes through the first 200 metres. Does

she want to go in front was it behind.

That was about staying away, trying to control the race. She didn't

look to be fading too much in the final 50 either.

We were down here yesterday watching a lot of the athletes

going through warm ups. New track. The general consensus was at the

bends are really nice, a good surface, this could be a fast track,

said lead talking to the British squads 400m, they were pretty

drawn in lane three, then redrawn. Benefiting our British athletes.

A quick look at the result. Very An impressive start, tell me, you

talked to your coach about how you wanted to execute the race? Funnily

enough, the coach was talking to me through a window because he never

had a pass to get through! We had a lot of hand sign language! He said,

do what you practise in training. You always want to run well. And

get a good lane. Roll on, the semi- finals. And he sent out a message

to your rivals. I didn't expect to go out that fast in my first round.

It is out of me now. You seem like you are building in confidence,

race after race. If it is always nerve-racking in the heats. I knew

I was more than capable of getting through but you have to get into

the top two. I don't want to become complacent. A tremendous start,

Andrew Cotter takes us through this see with the line-up. Very

impressive, Perri Shakes-Drayton. What can Shana Cox do? This is how

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

There is a Shana Cox. Run the first leg for the British relay team last

year, the winning team. Second in the UK indoors, behind Eilidh Child.

who has run faster this is an than outside, Morosanu from Romania.

Shana Cox, trying to sit on her shoulder. The first two go through

automatically, the four fastest losers, through to the semi-final

which takes place tomorrow. Kseniya Ustalova making sure now. Shana Cox

will have to finish hard for a good time in third place at the moment.

have to wait to see what her time was. A very strong run from

Morosanu. The 26-year-old Romanian who went on to hold off Kseniya

well in the past couple of years. We need to see her running with a

bit more confidence. She is looking good here, holding her form. But,

at the break, you see that slight hesitation where she should have

tried to commit herself, and get ahead of the Russian. She is

sitting on her shoulder, looking good. But, with that first two

qualifying positions taking through the athlete to the semi-finals, she

needed to do a bit more at this stage.

Shana Cox, fighting all the way down. Just inside 53 seconds. She

will wait. In the first heat, third A waiting game, I suppose, how

would you assess your performance? For my first round, it didn't feel

too bad, I would have liked it to be a bit faster. It is about

advancing right now. What was your mind set on, at the start line,

Asos tactical in the 400 -- so tactical. It is a completely

different game, so many other it and compete. Let us hope that

time is quick enough for you, we At the start of the year, where do

the European Athletics Indoor Championships fit into the scheme

of things? When Malcolm and myself discussed the indoor season, we did

have this as a good target, we thought it would be great to go

into the individual, the 4x400 metres would be the main option.

The season got better and better and it was a realistic target. To

be third in Europe, I didn't expect to be turning up, in that position.

Coming into this weekend, considering your position in Europe,

how are you thinking through the event? Is it a good opportunity for

a medal this week? If I wasn't going for a medal, I shouldn't be

here. It is about running the right race, with my game plan, and,

hopefully, if I do that, it will be enough to win that medal. The in

amongst the dolls pool are running fast, Perri Shakes-Drayton, it is

not going to be easy at all -- draw. Things have been going so

well for her. Her coach has been saying that this indoor season is

really going to help her outdoors as well. She's got a really good

chance of doing well in these championships. This is probably one

of the toughest of the heats in this first round. She has Rosolova,

the defending champion, inside of her. The junior record of holder

for Fenland Yngling four. -- for well, 26 years of age now. She has

been run down by this young 19- year-old Finnish athlete who's been

having such a good season. She broke the junior record in their

Championships a couple of weeks ago. Eilidh Child recognising the talent

and coming across nicely to take back straight. Rosolova in second

little bit to spare here. -- Eilidh Child. Not quite as quick as Perri

Shakes-Drayton. Very impressive come through these rounds, it's not

just about getting through but by winning, you talk about the link

road, you want to be in those outside two lanes in the semi-

finals. Yes, that lane draw will give an advantage to the runners

were they need to work that turn, come off in a commanding position

and feel they are controlling the race. That is exactly what Eilidh

Child did in this one. She was confident. Just made sure she did

these early qualifications, making sure in the 400m that you get out,

get in front and establish yourself in the race. That is exactly what

she did here. Sharnet Cox's ways, she was determined. You could see

the look in her face. Making sure that cadence work to the front.

Eilidh Child has a much more experienced runner than Chana. You

heard her talk about having her race plan, and she stuck to it.

Wasn't too impressed with Rosolova. She's not in the sort of shape she

was a couple of years ago when she won this title, but she's got a lot

of experience. Eilidh Child gaining experience all the time. 52.05. If

you'd said that at the start of the season she would probably have been

unhappy. But it's looking a little Another excellent performance from

you in what has been a tremendous season so far. Tell me about it

from your perspective. I wanted to automatically qualify, wanted to

win the heat. Try and keep as much energy as possible for tomorrow, so

I think I did that. It's always tough indoors but I'm happy.

guys in commentary were talking about how important it is to get a

good lane draw as well. That's it. My coach said to me, when the heat

so you can secure a good lane for the semi. You showed great maturity

for a relative novice to this kind of event when you saw that

challenge on the first lap and came across and took control. I knew I

had to break close. It makes it so much easier going into the second

lap. Once I got it I could be in 52.05. Two national records from

the finish junior, she's not a big chunk of her personal best. She

will definitely go through as the fastest loser. Shana Cox passed

across her fingers, she's got one stages of this qualifying

competition for the women's long jump. She needs something in excess

of 6.50 in order to move up the table into a place or better. Not

so quick on the runway as somebody like Klishina. She reckons she's

improvements over the last 12 months. But still nobody has got

the automatic qualifying distance of 6.65. Still being led by

Klishina, the defending champion, with Shara Proctor in second place.

6.50 for the Ukrainian. It looks as though she may make it through to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

women's 400m. The two to look out The strong as looking athletes on

on the outside. Hejnova comes in at the break out in front, but it's

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

and fourth place. Hejnova is going Hejnova, not too impressive,

impressive enough form but not necessarily on the time. No fastest

loser to come through from this Kucherenko could be in danger of

eliminating her tea made, deny cava as well. But that could be long

enough. 6.50 is the distance she has to so pass in order to make it.

She's done it, 6.54. Moves into 6th place. Nobody achieved the

automatic qualifying distance of 6.65. But it was led by Klishina of

Congratulations, that was a very comfortable qualifying for you. One

jump and you are through. Yes. I just have to be smart about it. I

kept looking at the results. It was either just keep jumping or be

smart, and they chose to be smart. You don't want to put yourself to

any risk by taking Essers -- and necessary dumps before the final.

Exactly. You are looking good again. How did it feel for you? It was a

little rough. It's 10am, it's 9am back in the UK. I was a little

sleepy but I still have to come out here and pour it out. We wish you

All four heats were won by 400m point of view, as we look at the

defending. Shana Cox is also going through as one of the four fastest

losers. Three British women through to the semi-finals, which take

Shara Proctor safely through in the long jump. All three women through

in the 400m. Hurdles, because it's all the hurdlers doing it on the

Flat. What can I say? Sally Gunnell was always successful as well. It's

not too much of a surprise that the hurdlers are doing it with great

form. What a wonderful performance most comfortable of the qualifiers.

I think she surprised herself. what I loved about this is she is

in the outside lane, so what she decides to do is run her own race.

This is what I'm here to do, I'm not going to mix up with anybody.

She ran a committed race. She didn't try to play any games. Just

a really controlled run. Even when you look at her face, she was

focused on what was necessary, she went round all the corners well,

there's no way obstructions. She just needed to do this. When she

looked at the time she said, oh, I'm surprised at the time. But when

you are in great shape, as she is demonstrating, it's not really a

surprise. It's probably as easy to run like that as it is to maybe say,

I'm going to run out at playing it at conserving energy. I always say,

don't mess about. Just do what you can do. If you are capable of

running 51 seconds, run 51 seconds. It's not going to take anything out

of her because she is a well trained athlete, she's in great

shape and good condition. looked good, as did Eilidh Child.

Not quite as quick but again, she was in the right place at the right

time. What I loved about this performance was a sense of

awareness of what was happening around her. There were lots of

women inside her who were quick and were pushing this early stage of

the event. She didn't panic, she just gently accelerated. She didn't

kick, because they kick can cause you some fatigue a little too early.

She took control at the bell and now she can Brive. She's got clear

heir to run through. Nothing to worry about. She will have a couple

of glances at the screen to see where everybody is bad again, a

really competent performance. I was watching her coach, Malcolm Arnold,

on his stopwatch, taking all these times. No doubt he will feed that

back to her shortly. Denise, you must have been particularly

impressed with both Eilidh Child and Perri Shakes-Drayton.

delighted with seeing the girls run. I expected both of them to qualify

comfortably. They've been showing great form recently. Getting the

balance right indoors without affecting your outdoor performance

is a fine art. Should you do a bit more speed, should you still keep

working on your speed and endurance? It's clear both those

girls have still got more to do, but they are running well, they are

into the semi-finals and it's great. Looking across the rest of those

heats and the other runners who won, perhaps Perri, well, she did look

the strongest not just on times but in terms of the rate she ran the

It was a good demonstration of what great shape I'm in, what I can do,

what I can deliver and I'm just going to do that. It's brilliant to

see. We'll get back to the track now for the women's 60 metre

the defending champion, she has won twice in 2010 and 2012.

She has run a really quick time. She is not known for running so

much indoors. Chatting with the Irish contingent yesterday, they

reckon Derval O'Rourke is in the best form since 2006. This is a

tough qualification, the top four hurdles in these chamipionships.

Now, the French, Dicko has been running very well this year. --

kit if it is confusing you, black persuade the starters but he should

line up again. But that will be the -- that will not be the case here.

She would have been an outside chance perhaps of a medal, it is a

very competitive field. An outside chance, she would certainly have

been hoping to get into the final. That makes it a little easier for

the seven who are left. Interesting to see how Nevin Yanit goes. Her

first race this year she was O'Rourke. Nevin Yanit wins it from

athlete, she is renowned for starting quickly outdoors. Nevin

Yanit, if she gets it all right, Turkish record. She did well in the

Olympic Games, finishing 5th in London. Not renowned for her indoor

racing. An early indication to the competitors she will be difficult

athlete. She has been competing well. A lot of people would have

said, and we are seeing Alina Talay shot a, everybody has realised

What is it like getting through that early-morning round? It was

good for me, I haven't had a very many races, it was good to get the

legs rolling. Word has it from the Irish camp you are running into

fantastic for which sure you become a world champion a few years back.

I feel like I am in good shape. I wasn't planning an indoor season,

it is a bonus. I will be trying hard to get into the final. We wish

you well. Thank you. Com pensive coverage of these

European Athletics Indoor Championships in the next few days.

Nevin Yanit, through comfortably. A lack of British end -- interest

here, very disappointing. Absolutely. We were looking forward

to seeing Andrew Pozzi, coming back from injury. Unfortunately, he

picked up another injury on a hamstring and has to sit out.

Sometimes, you decide, I am going to do a couple of races to get rid

of the boredom of the winter training but I don't want the added

pressure of a major championships. You always want to perform well.

You don't want to give a half performance. So I can understand

Tivoli -- Tiffany's dilemma. If it is an interesting decision.

always took it very seriously. Denise very rarely did it. She

decided never to do it. Again, it is about your selection policy on

what you need to do in the summer. I was focusing into August so I had

when from Nevin Yanit. A season's best for a rock macro. Same she was

best for a rock macro. Same she was Neziri of Finland, the Finnish

record hold all -- holder, indoors this is a fairly even race on paper

resolution PhotoFinish is to separate them, very close indeed.

Yulia Kondakova began to fade a little bit. Instead, coming through

in lane three, Aerts of Belgium. So Grabban -- Skrobakova just about

dipped for that. Skrobakova, for me. They are being shown at the same

time. In fact, Aerts has been given the same time as well. It matters

not, there's first four in the inside four lens will go through

automatically, at a cracking finish, Denise Lewis.

4th what a great race, we knew these were the main protagonists,

good, solid hurdling. The Belgian record holder, she won their

championships. Yulia Kondakova, the fastest time in Europe, but didn't

look as sharp as we have seen her. A diminutive figure. The Russian

indoor champion. 31, now. Running as quickly as she ever has, in fact,

quicker. I think she has been given Those are the four automatic

qualifiers. The rest, again, will see if there times are quick enough.

depend athletes on track, ready for the first event, the 60m hurdles --

the pentathletes. Remona Fransen was the favourite.

Being chased all the way down the number two, including the defending

hurdles discipline. Third from the righthand side of the screen. It

was going to be a quick time. 34 points ahead of her nearest rival

even after the end of the first of the first event. Hannah

Melnychenko got the second fastest time in that hurdles race. 34

points behind the French champion. Remona Fransen won the first heat,

watching the pentathlon with a keen eye. You actually never did one of

these, what was your reasoning behind that? Usually, I was focused

on my outdoor performance and I never felt I had enough speed in

the winter months to justify being at the championships. It was a

decision, I and maybe do if you events, but no pentathlon for me.

Athletes have to make this decision, do they want to do seriously

competitively indoors? Jessica and this does take the indoors very

seriously. Silver medal at the world indoors last year, she chose

to give it a miss this season. did, there has been a lot going on,

be a busy few months for her. Really, I don't think she should do

the indoors, and glad she is focusing solely on those World

Championships in Moscow. Which leaves the pentathlon wide open

here. Ekaterina Bolshova had the leading performers of the year. But,

after that, the performances, it is very competitive.

We will keep you updated with the pad triathlon. Heat three of the

field, but it will be tight again. In that lane three. The first four

through. In the middle, Svetlana Topilina. I think Veronica Borsi

will go well. Alina Talay, the under 23 champion. She made the

semi-finals at the Olympic Games. A very good indoor runner. Silver

medal at the world indoors last year. Silver medal outdoors at the

European Championships last year as talking about the fact that this is

probably one of the most competitive events at these

European Indoor Championships. The first four only through to the

She beat Yvette Lewis recently in her last race before coming to

these championships. Coming through nicely towards the end. Topilina

just fading towards the end. The Italian, who's been having such a

good season, those three will go championships with a much stronger

team, particularly in the women's events. I'm not sure they have too

many medal chances but she is certainly the best one they have

One of our Olympic champions here, Mo Farah is training and getting

ready for the marathon in America. For Jess and Greg Rutherford, a

slightly different excuse. You can see just there with the Beefeaters.

She got a CBE. For Greg Rutherford, looking resplendent in his tales,

he got an MBE. Nicola Adams got a gold medal in the boxing, she was

alongside them. Together at the Palace, they were also together the

night they won that gold medal. It shoulders of Jessica Ennis. When I

look back, I do feel there was so much pressure. My goodness, the

fastest time ever by a heptathlete! Jess Ennis is flying. The whole of

the heptathlon was nerve-racking, every event was nerve-racking in a

different way. But the 800, it was that feeling of you've got so far,

you are practically there, you can be the Olympic champion. Everybody

is on their feet. The pride of Sheffield, the pride of Great

the moment. Can he feed off this atmosphere? It's big! Can you

believe what is happening in this stadium at the moment? 8.31. That

try and forget that, just think about how hard you work too.

can deny Greg Rutherford from Olympic gold. That is a fowl. Greg

Rutherford is the Olympic champion. I don't think he can quite believe

The crowd are lifting him, they are cheering him on. Just 100m to go.

Has he got enough? Mo Farah is going for it. It's going to be a

glorious win. Mo Farah for Great yourself? Of course it happened.

Three gold medals for Great Britain. We are sitting here asking, did

that really happen? I mean... Colin and I was sitting next to each

other in Singapore for the decision when Jack Roxette London rather

than Paris. If you'd have told us then that we'd get a night like

that we'd have said, no. Yes. It was breathtaking. I thoroughly

enjoyed it. I went back to an athletics fan that evening. Forget

the fact I was working with the BBC, I was absorbed with everybody else,

with the excitement, the euphoric feeling. And the expectation. When

the athletes still a good time and time... In, what, 45 minutes? It

was remarkable. I'm glad I was there. And very different victories

in their own weight. Let's start with Greg. We thought he was in

with a chance but that was unexpected. Yes. I think he would

have said that himself. He was thinking, right, I'm going to

qualify well. Nobody was jumping very far. He just thought, right,

he is my opportunity. He raised his game, launched himself and he had a

just victory. It was tremendous. It was a long build-up. Remember way

back when he was a 21-year-old and won his first silver medal in the

championships, we all said, watch this man. But then he got injury

upon injury. But to come to London and nail the performance when it

matters, the Olympic Games, had to offer. And that was here in

Gothenburg, the silver medal. For Jessica Ennis, she'd lost the world

indoors in the Olympic year, and yet she was the face of the Games.

Huge pressures. The weight of the world, or at least of Britain, on

them. She started off with a new British record in the 100m hurdles.

From thereon in we knew what we could expect. We were biting our

nails when it came to that javelin. Was she going to be able to launch

it successfully? She did that, everybody breathed a sigh of relief

and then she took the 800m. What a great way to finish. She threw her

hands up in the air. Relief, excitement, every single emotion in

the world went through her body at that time. I remember the

conversations that you and I have about chess. I said, maybe she's

just a little bit small. No, she's full of spring. She demonstrated

that. A really great asset to us in Great Britain. As Steve Cram said

in commentary, it's over to you, Mo. Mo Farah has been coming for a very

long time. We were wondering if he could really turn the magic on

against the East Africans, Kenyans and Ethiopians. He took a bold

decision after being the double European champion. We all went,

you've just one two gold medals in major championships and you are

leaving this set up to go to the US? We were anxious for him. But he

proved us wrong and came back with a world championship gold medal and

a silver medal and arrived in London in great shape. Again, a lot

of expectation. We wanted him to go out there. We knew he could put the

question was, was he going to? When he kicked in that final with 100m

to go, everybody was... We lost our boys as, Breathless, it was

fantastic. I felt I'd won it with him! And we did it a week later in

the 5000m. Do you think Mo has got the credit he deserves for being a

double Olympic... The 5000m and the 10,000 metres are dominated by the

African nations. To come in and do that is beyond belief. We've had

some great athletes, from Steve cram himself to Sebastian Coe and

Steve Ovett. None have them have done doubles. He's done it in

distance running against Supreme opposition. It goes to prove that

the real quality of this man is there. But you don't know what

you've lost until it's gone. When retiring and going to the marathon,

then we will perhaps realise how great he is. We do appreciate what

he's doing now but do we recognise his greatness? Perhaps not. Perhaps

he just needs to break a world record. We hope that. It would be

great if he did it in the Olympic Stadium. We are back there but two

days of the London Diamond League. The legacy of the stadium rumbles

on, West Ham are the preferred bidder and maybe they'll be playing

football there but not in the near future. To have the London Grand

Prix in the Olympic stadium is very special. I'm excited about it. A

lot of people wanted to come to the Olympic Games and couldn't get

tickets to go and see the stadium. Now this iconic venue, where people

like Usain Bolt ran tremendously well, Jess Ennis won a gold medal,

I think now people have the opportunity to come and see that

Stadium. I'm hoping the athletes will have a full house to go and

perform in. It's a great thing for the stadium, great thing for London

and superb for British athletics. In terms of the pressure on those

three athletes, and particularly on Greg, he took advantage of perhaps

what was not the strongest long jump competition. He has got the

Olympic champion against his name but he is perhaps not the best in

the world. It's interesting. When you get the responsibility of being

a major champion, then you've really got to take that on your

shoulders. I think Greg will work certainly hard. Every single

Championships that he's healthy, I'm seeing that he's going to get a

medal. I'm saying, yes, stick with Greg, I think he can produce the

goods. And he's still got an 8.50 jump in him. Let's get back to the

they all are. Talay winning that last heat. A pretty good

performance from her. Topilina did go through. Pedersen with a new

personal best. She will be one of the fastest losers. Yanit is

definitely the best in terms of how she looked. O'Rourke may have an

outside chance of taking a medal is going to be close. It's going to

normally qualified and have their final on the same day. But

yesterday evening was the scene for the qualifying competition for the

men's shot but final this evening. One of only three putters to go

over 20 metres. His best throw came in the third round. This was the

second place athlete. A spinner who almost fell out of the circle. It

was a fine effort by him. A sitting very perilously close to

where those shot put were landing. It was a great atmosphere in what

was called the market square European bronze medallist last

season. 20.31. He actually sat out the second and third rounds,

confident in the knowledge that he had qualified for the final. The

organisers were after 20.15 in order to qualify for the final.

Only the leader achieved that distance. The defending champion,

Ralf Bartels, looked a little bit out of sorts. He finished in fifth

the men's triple jump qualifying. A favourite event in Sweden, in the

field, because of the exploits of Olsson, and Jonathan Edwards, way

back in 1995, which seems an age ago. The distance required... Sorry

about that, Jonathan! The distance required for the final, 16.90. It

was a long time ago! Marian Oprea, one of the best jumpers in the

world. Olympics so well -- silver- medallist. He starts as one of the

medallist. Not quite as far as the distance which has been set, the

qualifying distance. I can't honestly imagine eight jumpers will

far. Ruslan Samitov of Russia. 2013

Russian indoor champion. He is a 17-metre jumper when he is that his

best. Just 21 years old. 4th in the European junior championships some

years ago. Not a very tall jumper, but very powerful. That yellow line

will have another mine added to it in a while once the competition

gets going, to show us how far the top eight have achieved in terms of

required but good enough for second place for the time being.

STEVE CRAM: Moving to the first heat of the 400m men. This is how

be one to watch out for. The Irish are hoping Brian Gregan can bring

home the gold in these championships. A good lane draw,

not particularly fast out of the blocks. He has been running

superbly well. A great new indoor facility in Ireland. A small team,

only 11 here. This is the man they hope will do well, look how

aggressively he has gone through the first 200 metres. That is quick.

Nice and controlled. Right at the back, the Croatian is off the pace.

A real scrap going on behind Brian Gregan, he has done well to keep

himself out of this. Hanne trying to finish quickly. He is OK. Hanne

thought he was not going to be able to. A not very good first 200

metres. Ruzic, too late to get into the race for him. A hint of what is

to come from Brian Cregan. It will be interesting when they all come

together in the semis. COLIN JACKSON: These corners come

up very quickly. Hit the front, just run your own

steady pace. You can control the race. Brian Gregan is looking

around. A bit of acceleration when necessary. A really good, solid

performance, the first time I have seen him in the flesh run. A little

disappointed, David McCarthy not here. Brian Gregan has been running

superbly well. Heading the European rankings this year. We will see

Pavel Trenikhin shortly. Richard Strachan and Nigel Levine in the

next heat. That is how the first finals tomorrow. They have a chance

to rest and recover if they don't get it quite right today.

I can see below me the winner of A fine performance to start, of

what is it like coming into these chamipionships, people looking at

you as a strong medal contender? Any time I race in Ireland, there

is a lot of pressure on me to win. It is another race for me. Once I

give it my all, that is the main thing for me. Are you pleased with

the way you did this? The main thing was to win. I stumbled once

or twice, the track is a little bit bubbly. -- bobbly. The first round

is hard, you have to get it right, first of three drums to qualify for

tomorrow's final. The automatic qualifying line is plain to see at

16.90 metres. Federov had promised a lot since he won a world youth of

a medal in 2007. He became European junior champion a few years ago. He

has all the credentials to become a five triple jumper and do well at

senior level. The second longest we anticipate a very strong event for

Britain. Yes, it really should be. A false

line-up, three guys running, Michael go benumbed, -- Michael

Bingham, we need to see him successfully go through here today.

Of the three British athletes, Nigel Levine is looking strongest.

I would really like to see Nigel take it that one step further and

come through in a strong way. Really interesting to see how

Michael Bingham gets on hit in lane five. He has a good lane draw,

hopefully not getting into any trouble. He hasn't run much but

hopefully with his expense he should know what it is about,

getting to the 200 metres, controlling it, put himself in

position. Not having to get through it as a fastest loser. I agree with

Paul Dickenson, it was a long time ago, 1995! Andrew, this is all

lane, he will see the back of Pavel Trenikhin, that Russian, very tall,

in lane six, the form horse, four times he has won. He wouldn't think,

looking at him, very tall and long- allegiances last year to Italy,

Just the first two go through automatically, the four fastest.

Michael Bingham is up very quickly, already alongside Pavel Trenikhin,

they have different game plans. Michael Bingham is flying out.

Pavel Trenikhin waiting to get have lost commentary for the time

being. Because it is instant at the bell, Denise Lewis, it shows how

important it is to beat in the right place at the right time, as

Michael Bingham was. Incidences happen, in the men's

race, they are fighting. Michael Bingham made sure he was out of

danger. The lead was changing a lot. It was really a good, solid run

from him. Pavel Trenikhin was on the outside. He saw Michael Bingham

go past but he took the view, he knew he was in good shape. Hears

the man in form. He has put down the times this season, is strong,

tall athlete. Michael Bingham was out fast, he chased the Russian

down within the first bend. His plan was very clear. There's no way

I am not going to be leading when we get to the 200. Her Michael, we

expected him to go out quickly. He needed to command this race. He

took charge there. Just making sure he was out of that incident. But,

the Russian wasn't having any of it, he decided he would use the

momentum created from the turn, into the straight, and took over

from Michael Bingham. Chen me kin macro showing he is a force to be

Watching yourself on the monitor, what is your verdict? I slowed down

a little too much in the middle of the race, try to pace myself. But

you cannot do that indoors. No excuses. Chipping up, and let the

pack catch me. -- Tripping. You saw all the bumping and barging going

on behind you. I am trying to work on this indoors, it is very

different. You don't have to switch pace so much. It is really just a

progression from outdoors. I am happy to be here representing the

team and hopefully you'll see me, and Team GB more often. Brian

Gregan said he felt the track was bumpy. Did you find anything

similar? No, just running a little bit different. When you come out of

the turn, you have to make sure your stride is not so long because

you will abruptly hit the straight. the Russian looking very

comfortable. Michael Bingham, very comfortably through to the semi-

lane five, the same as Michael Bingham, isn't Richard Strachan. A

personal best he has run indoors this year. He perhaps didn't look

quite as strong as we hoped he would in the Birmingham Grand Prix.

Nigel Levine took that race. Maybe it was the big occasion.

DENISE LEWIS: He knows he is in shape. Sometimes, you are unsure

whether you can step up to the plate. He has a great opportunity

at these championships. There is a medal up for grabs for one of these

three. He has to be confident, he has to commit. The key is

qualification here. He should, hopefully, if he stays out of

danger, be in the mix. The recent athletes like this, a medal in a

chair bishops can change your mind set. That first medal can elevate

you. It confirms in your mind that you are progressing. The worst

thing is stagnation. That first ground can meet you very quickly,

so you have to make sure your strides are shorter. That

frequently takes you into the home straight. These early runs are

about getting used to that, reminding the body what you need to

do. He needs to work,. What we will probably see again is that he will

go out and try to make sure he misses any of that hurly burly that

happens when they all converge at the bell. It seems to be the

strategy for everybody. It's a sure way of making sure that you are out

of danger. The worst thing at this stage is to get tripped up and be

out of the competition. We have restored communications to the

commentary box, so it's all yours, Richard Strachan is next to go,

Michael Bingham safely through. Picking up on what Denise was

saying, I was watching Richard last night practising coming off the

bend and coming off from lanes 5 and 6. He's obviously intending

doing what we all think he should do, which is to get out there and

Richard Strachan might be one to watch out for. He was leading and

let the guy week saw run not particularly well in the first heat

run on the inside. Maybe he will want to take Strachan on in this

of the blacks already. Going well in the middle is the Italian.

Strachan has got to turn on the burners if he wants to take this

lead. Strachan forces his way to the front. A little bit of a nudge

their. Strachan is safely out in front. He's got to hold that

position. There's a big surge from the Ukrainian. He was pushed. He

goes off into lane six. No problem for Strachan, the first two will go

through. But the young Frenchman, he's trying to make up some ground

by dipping. A solid performance. It was all going on behind him. The

young Frenchman was in a terrible position, trying to go through on

the inside of the Italian. Decided to give him a bit of a shove, can't

really do that. Even if he is good enough to be a fastest loser, I

suspect we might see him being disqualified. Gounod's, the

Italian... -- who knows, the Italian... It depends what they

protest for. The most important thing for us is that Strachan is

very successful and dominant in that race. He's always strong and

quick, very committed to the early part of the race. He got out

quickly on to the Ukrainian athlete's shoulders. You can kind

of settle into your rhythm at this stage, still work on the cadence

but you are settled. Not being disrespectful to you, Steve, but

this place where they do the break, they are running a little bit

quicker. You want to stay out of the argy-bargy because it takes a

lot of energy. He's checking his have distress himself. He will have

noticed that everybody around him is fatiguing. It's about qualifying,

winning, making sure you get a The athletes are loving it down

here because you are getting a chance to see how you performed.

What's your perspective? Hello, mum. To get to the front to control the

race. So important over the 200. I backed off a bit around the bend.

The Ukrainian was just doing enough. Just about getting to the front and

controlling the race. Steve Cram said he'd watch to practising

yesterday, getting used to this track. Obviously practice makes

perfect. I was down here with Linford and by two training

partners. We were all going round trying out different parts of the

track. I like it. How much does it help you to be a part of that team,

especially with Nigel in the same event as you are here? It helps a

lot. Nigel had a lot of questions - are we friends, are we rivals? We

are sharing a room out here today. Were having a good time, it's great

that so many of us are here. And Conrad Williams, who would have

been here in the relay team that had a slight niggle, that's a shame,

but the rest of the group is going surprise when Greco finished fourth

in the Olympic final last year. He really is a young man with a lot of

first round. But limping out, that's a worry. He jumped over 70

metres this year for one of the best jumps not only in Europe but

the rest of the world as well. I wonder if that's just a touch of

too severe. I must admit that limp is a big worry for the Italian.

been disqualified. The silly thing there is the Italian, who, if he'd

finished, could have been advanced through but he didn't actually

finish the race. There was no reason why he shouldn't. He did

look like a Premiership footballer going down in the penalty area, but

he just stopped. Had he kept going round, his team could have

protested that he could have been never serves you well. Nigel Levine

is just about ready to go in the outside him. A good marker for him.

We were talking about the strength of the women in this team and how

that might come together for the relay, but the men's... The teams

in some events, the great British team doesn't have any competitors

and in some it is reasonably weak. But in the 400 in the men's and

the trend will continue, because the tactic seems to be from the

British athletes in the 400 is to just get out there and avoid any

trouble, but Maslak will be a hard man to get past. He made great

progress last year. He still just a indoors and it really does make a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

difference, on the indoor track it Maslak is out in front. Easy style

round the back straight. This young man from the Czech Republic is

followed closely by Levine. Maslak having a look around. The been

trying to put the pressure on. -- Levine. We expected those two to

behind the two athletes to come through to take the first and

second spot. Everybody keeps checking their positions, wondering

where they are. Nigel de be in deep to see if he could -- Nigel Duckett

in deep to see if he could check on where he was. Lane five, good,

strong lane draw. It allows him to focus on the main man in front of

happens inside. He has to cut a keep the timing. Don't want to use

too much energy in these early rounds unless you really have to.

You can see as it comes of this term, he thinks, should I have a

bit of a goat to see if he's got a response? He digs in, Maslak sees

him do that and put us on a bit more to maintain his position.

done so far for the three British athletes. Maslak looking very

comfortable there. The man in Up against one of your likely

rivals this weekend for the Overall title, how was that? It was all

right. I tried to win my heat but he's quite a strong guy. I've got

to pick him up, respect to him. It's the European Championships,

it's not going to be easy, we've got to work for it. The first round

is out of the way. The next round, go back and talk to my coach and

then go on from there for tomorrow. We spoke to Brian Gregan earlier on

and he said the first round is always the hardest one to get your

head around, it's a relief to get it out of the way - is that how you

feel? Yes. If you can't run good in the first round, you are in trouble

in the second. The been running well all season and have brought a

great deal of confidence in. I've got a bit of confidence but that

got knocked a little. Let's bring Maslak. All three British athletes

are safely through. Just to confirm the final line up

British athletes. -- two big in the pentathlon, now. Nadine

Broersen, 1.78. That is worth 953 points. Not the most accomplished

high jump but in terms of technique. But, certainly, a very solid

performer. First-time clearances clearance, again. Hannah

Melnychenko looking very solid indeed. She has had first time to

ounces ever since 1.69 metres. -- first-time clearances.

Sofia Linde, a favourite here in Gothenburg. She did very well in

the hurdles earlier today. That, I think, equals her lifetime best

the hurdles. In a little bit of trouble here. That is unusual. That

she should be suffering at this height in the high jump. She has

not got it. That could put his huge dent in her respirations to lift

his gold medal and defend her title successfully. -- aspirations. She

looked great in the hurdles, and earlier in the high jump, but it

has all gone wrong. A relatively modest height.

Let us look back at those 400m heats. Relatively comfortable for

These early mornings are not easy. They clearly or had a strategy, and

they executed it really well. It is nice to see that they are getting

used to being in this arena, delivering on the expectations we

have of them. Nigel Levine, do you think he was tried to make a point,

in the home straight. -- trying. has seen how his mother team mates

have run, he wanted to lead, but Pavel Maslak was strong, he looked

really good. Nigel Levine had to concede and change his strategy and

Coast and make sure he qualified comfortably. The scale of the

challenge should not be underestimated. Brian Gregan is

ranked number one in Europe. Pavel Maslak as well. It is tough to get

onto the podium. It is. We talked about the opportunity to come away

with a medal. No championships are easy. They have got the speed in

their legs, they have to find another gear. We have a couple more

races coming up, the men's 3,000 metres qualification. We are back

A lot of questions, I think, with Dwain Chambers. He struggled in

Birmingham. He had run well earlier in Glasgow. He has injuries. He has

got injured. His indoor performance should speak volumes. He has been

very successful at wild and European indoors. Therefore, you

cannot rule him out. He will have to come here and prove it tonight.

We also have Holly Bleasdale, men's 3,000 metres heats.

It is round one. The final takes this heat, Ingebrigtsen, the 1,500m

champion. And Arikan, he now races for Turkey, he used to race for

the European Championships last year, in the 1,500m. A glimpse,

Ingebrigtsen. We are ready for 15 fastest losers go through to the

final. Arikan, easing his way through on the outside. Florian

Carvalho takes them out. Pace is important in this. If it is a bit

slow, others who are concerned they might be a fastest loser might pick

things up. At the moment, dawdling around.

Paul lump capitals macro -- PAULA RADCLIFFE: they need to keep up the

Stephen Scullion. Also, boiling macro. Olionaird, in 4th place at

a training, then moved down to train with Mark Rowland.

Arikan is in front. Ingebrigtsen. Just in front of Olionaird. The

pace at the moment, it has picked up a little bit. By no means the

quickest 3,000 metres race. I do not think we are going to see

super quick times here. Will probably see them dawdle around,

then decide to do something over the closing laps. Maybe a bit

quicker in the second heat if somebody decides to make the pace

more decent from the start. A lot of people will be put in all their

position to make it through to tomorrow's final. He certainly is a

very competent jump her. And, that looks much better. You can see the

line there, where the top eight jumpers have jumped further than.

An orange qualifying line and a green in 8th place line. He has

suddenly gone in excess of that. It is still Daniele Greco, the young

Italian, who is way ahead of everybody here. But, that is good,

nice rhythm, good speed as well. He still may need a little bit more,

depending on how everybody else goes in this qualifier. It is an

Rocking and rolling, just a little, on the runway. A slightly different

style but the result is good. A very powerful jumper, and

incredibly strong man end of the weights room. A good take-off. He

pounds down the runway, that is very close to the automatic