Day 2 - Morning Session Athletics: European Indoor Championships

Welcome to the European indoor Championships from the Serbian

capital Belgrade. It's a really impressive run by Tom Lancashire. He

got it absolutely right. A gold medal for Thiam. Nielsen looks to be

fairly comfortable. Pozzi gets it! He's got it, he's won

the gold medal! A very good morning from Belgrade. This horror story

city in Serbia hosting the European indoor Championships -- the historic

city in Serbia. There were five golds on offer yesterday, plenty

more today. A packed afternoon we have in store, dominated with

qualifiers for the athletes. We'll be talking through those and looking

ahead to this afternoon and learning more about Serbia. Last night I had

my tea in the Novak Djokovic restaurant. Let's say a very good

morning to our commentary team in the box, Steve Cram and Andrew

Cotter and Steve Backley. Colin and Denise are in the studio. I think

we'll get straight on with the action, it's the 60 hurdles for the

men's heptathlon. Ashley Bryant going in the first. COMMENTATOR:

Ashley Bryant involved in this first heat in the men's 60 metres which

will get us under way. A sparse crowd which will build. There is

Serbian involvement but Ashley Bryant is in lane three. There is

Ashley Bryant. Just missed the Olympic qualifying standard last

year which was rather cruel. An airline lost his poles. He's going

well this season, he is GB team captain hair. Starting his campaign

on 60. That's nothing to do with technical problems. That's Pesic.

That was a clear false start. A quick reminder that in multi-events

it is not a straight disqualification. While they do this

I think Pesic has his warning against the field. Here we one of

the first things I was going to chat about was how yesterday was marred

by a sequence of falls starts. Ordered to do with speakers being

too close, where the athletes hearing the gun quicker than the

starter had anticipated? It turns out potentially there was a

technical problem in that the starter could hear the beep and he

was firing again to declare a falls start. The reaction times would say

they weren't false starts. Sometimes you can use your own eyes but it's

up to the starter to make those decisions. He would be chastised if

the signals were going into his ear and he made a couple of mistakes.

Sometimes it was really clear when there were faulty starts. For me it

was important that the starter used his initiative and said, do you know

what, comeback guys and we'll do this again properly. They would have

a general feel that this is really unusual. We don't have so many false

starts at major championships. This was probably the most we saw

throughout the whole of the Olympic Games in just a couple of hours

yesterday. I thought it was really bad and unsettling for the athletes.

Let's hope today is a better day. That was a clear falls start. The

final of the women's 60 hurdles there and Pedersen in -- from

Denmark was eventually disqualified. There was some con club, they

thought maybe the mic was too close to the blocks. This morning this is

what we've just seen in Ashley Bryant's heat. This was a clear

falls start. No arguments about that. Yesterday I think we saw

faulty starts by the official, the starter should have been a bit

clearer. Hopefully second time lucky. Again, it was a technical

problem. All technical problems yesterday which we have been assured

have been sorted out. The starter is doing their best but it was a hard

day. The Estonian in lane one twitched and set off Darko Pesic.

Fingers crossed everyone. 60 to stop the heptathlon. Ashley Bryant got a

good start... Bryant trying to get back, it's all about the time. 7.05

the Dudas. Anything close to Bryant's personal-best would be a

very good start but Ashley Bryant. All about the winner, the local boy,

Dudas. He's on the post is all around the stadium and he has

delivered to the small crowd here this morning. The first of two time

trials. Ashley Bryant, British team captain with a decent run. Dragged

along by the Serbian just his left. Worked hard to squeeze out every

hunter -- every hundredth. A possibility of medals have been

mentioned over the next two macro days. Ashley Bryant has actually got

a diminutive figure for a multi-events. He's quite short. Able

to get up quickly. He's not quite at the top end speed of some of the

others but he has just run a personal best, 7.0 six. -- 7.06. A

very good start for Ashley Bryant as Dudas takes the victory. It's all

about the times and Ashley Bryant with a great start. A reminder of

the other events to come. There is confirmation of the result.

A good start for Ashley Bryant. STUDIO: A great way for the captain

to start with a personal best. Here is how the morning pans out.

Great Britain has a good trio in the 60 men's 60 metres. Liam Ramsey is

coming up in the second heat on a season 's best of seven seconds.

Will be hoping to get himself a good clutch of points in this second heat

which hopefully will go off without too many problems! A very good start

for Ashley Bryant, wasn't it Denise? Yes, a great way to start combined

events with a personal best. He's got high aspirations. He's had a

really good winter as well. A bit disappointed not to have made the

Olympics last year but he so close to that British record that if -- if

he has a good day today he could see a new personal best and a new

record. Help take inspiration from the final race of yesterday evening,

we saw that wonderful final from Pozzi which for you seem to be even

more nostalgic. We saw you having a chat with him afterwards, tell us

what you were talking about. It was to remind him how good he is. Now

that he can truly believe in himself. Not that he ever ultimately

doubted himself but you have to prove it to yourself. You must have

doubt setting in when you have had injuries like that. Winning the

championship 's nails it for you to say, I can do that. Andrew knows he

ran a particularly good race, smack in the middle of the field. He goes

into this competition as the favourite. He was really laboured in

his blocks. What was really crucial was he made no mistakes in the

acceleration phase of the race. Even though he's slow out the box, no

mistakes over hurdle one or hurdle two. He clattered them, three and

four, slightly off-balance, but the fact he already had its impetus and

rhythm in place meant he could get through and win the title. How hard

is that, when you've had a poor start and you are the favourite, the

temptation to try and overcompensate which is where you would clattered

the first hurdle is what we see go wrong time and again. What you do

automatically is to chase. He didn't do that. He just kept calm and he

did what he was supposed to do all the way through that race. It was

scrappy but we don't care. Just take the title. And to back up the

fantastic season he's had so far, the fact he's been able to get this

bank of training, he's gone into championships not really fully

cooked and having to compensate for a lack of training. It will give him

so much confidence going to the worlds. Completely. Getting

back-to-back sessions, knowing what you are capable of. His speed, Colin

you said he's a very quick on the flat and that's made a difference to

him and his confidence, that he can trust his body. But the training is

there, the back-up is there, and that bodes well for an entire

season. Of course, when you bring in the rest of the world, there are

some fantastic hurdlers from the Americas and he's going to have

tough competition. We over egging his opportunity this year, is he

going to be up there with those guys challenging the medals in London?

Last year everything was haphazard because he didn't have the

consistency of training. Headline of thinking, what am I going to produce

this year? Now he has that bank of training behind him and the belief

he win fast and it will have a completely different changing his

mind set. Now I think it'll be really positive and not afraid of

taking on the rest of the world. Watch him in London. We are looking

forward to seeing how he goes through the net vulnerable rest of

season. His ceremony is at 4:40pm. They are coming out now for the

second 60 metres, Liam Ramsey is in this one in lane eight. Andrew

Cotter would like to commentate this rather fabulous X Factor build-up

here. A great track. COMMENTATOR: You would think so but you would be

wrong! Anyway, here is Kristjan Rosenberg from Estonia. His season

's best time is 7.01. This is the outstanding multi-events, hyped

athlete for this weekend, Kevin Mayer. He is a big star, a big star

in France and the man to beat this weekend. Simone Cairoli of Italy.

These are the quick as printers. -- quicker sprinters. The quickest

actually Dominik Distelberger. A threat to Kevin Mayer might come

from the next man to be Jorge Urena. Anything over 6000 points is pretty

useful. The European Championship

silver-medallist, Adam Helcelet. There are a couple of Czech athletes

in this line-up. Jiri Sykora. And the second British athlete, Liam

Ramsey from the city of Sheffield. He had dreams of going to Rio and

didn't quite make it. From Edlington near Doncaster. He has a season 's

best time of seven seconds flat. He'll have seen what Ashley Bryant

did and that's all he's looking for as well. Kevin Mayer goes in lane

two. It is the 60 and then the long jump

and the shot put. The high jump, pole vault and finishing with the

1000 metres in heptathlon for the men.

It is all about those times. We already have a personal best for

Ashley Bryant in the first heat. What can Liam Ramsey do and how can

Kevin Maher start. Stand down, keep calm. Rosenberg and

again a reminder in multi-eventing that you're allowed one false start.

Effectively that is given against the field and the next would be

disqualification. You can just see him twitching. A

three-metre twitch. A lot of criticism yesterday of the starters

but the fourth start we had this morning, very much down to the

athletes with a bit of nerves on the second day here in Belgrade. The

Estonian Rosenberg, a good history of multi-events. Olympic champion in

2004 Estonia. Here comes the shepherds crook again. It cannot be.

That is the first. Effectively forced start now against the field

courtesy of Rosenberg. They all said thank you, Christian.

Liam Ramsey settled in again. So Rosenberg, Kevin Maher into.

Distelberger in number four. Helcelet in six. And another

athlete, Sykora in layman 's number eight. That looked to be

Distelberger, who is a great sprinter in heptathlete terms. To

the naked eye again that will be a disqualification. I feel for these

starters. They all had technical problems yesterday and now they have

had three actual falls starts today. Two of them very clear and bent one,

looking at Distelberger, and there is some movement alongside him but I

do not know. It looks like Distelberger after a little bit of

the twitch from his neighbour. The guys will have watched the races

yesterday and they will have known that there were issues with the

start. Athletes are nervous anyway coming out into the arena and that

is just compounding it. But very much athlete error it would seem so

far and a disqualification potentially afoot. So he has those

reaction times written on that piece of paper. We do not get to see them

any more because of the technical problems yesterday, that is

understandable. Let's listen in. That is a conduct warning, that

card. Not a disqualification. He has not done anything wrong.

Exactly what he rams they would not have wanted. Just having senior

team-mate running a personal best, Ashley Bryant. He wants to get the

race away and sub seven seconds would be ideal and now I think get

it over as quickly as possible. It would help if the technical problems

had been sorted out and we could see the reaction times. Again there are

not furnishing us with that information. Ramsay settles in

again. The second heat of this 60 metres to start the men's

heptathlon. Wakely this time. Distelberger going

strongly. Not blisteringly quick but below seven seconds. Pretty sharp

for those multi-eventers. Ramsay, his personal best, he will be down

on that. That will be a little bit frustrating. Because he is quicker

than that. But these athletes just happy I think to move through and

still be in the competition after a couple of false starts. Urena

they're one of the medal contenders, getting his nose in front and he

keeps it there. A decent start from Ramsay but a little bit outclassed

by the speed of the Spaniard. Urena comfortably sub seven man on a

basis. Ramsay just lost some ground in the middle. Just outside of seven

seconds. And OK start, not setting the world alight but OK for Ramsay.

Just looking for confirmation of his time. Urena winning it alongside

Distelberger. And for Ramsay his time is 7.12. A

little bit down on his personal best. But finally everyone up and

running in the men's heptathlon. Thank you, Andrew. That has put is

about 13 minutes behind schedule, those races. We now have a total of

eight 60 keeps with the men and women. We're going to be well into

the afternoon now. Quite a bad start after a bad day yesterday. The

officials did the right thing for you, issuing conduct warning instead

of penalising anyone? That is a -- that is exactly what Denise said,

just issuing that conduct warning and keeping the discipline. It can

escalate time and again. What we witnessed I thought they were clear

for starts by the athletes. So it was just like calm down, relax and

let's get this thing in order. That will give the women more confidence

now because they will have watched that again and thought, that was a

false start. So hopefully that will let the discipline followed through

those events. At the start of the day for a multi-eventer with a long

day ahead, have you ever experienced anything like that? Nothing like

this. Falls starts, there is the potential of going out. But what

we've seen at these so far is record-breaking in terms of the

faulty starts. And it puts a dampener not only on the crowd but

on the hosts as well. It is a proud thing to host a championships and it

is a great city with some really good athletes to showcase. It just

needs to be sorted out. I think they're being more cautious today.

Issuing bad conduct warning, it is a good sign. Well let's hope the

gremlins are out of the works now. Steve Cram, take it away. We do not

like those gremlins! First thing on a Saturday morning. It is not good

for the athletes but to be fair to be officials, I think that was the

fault of the athletes and hopefully all the equipment is working

properly. Into the 60 metres, fairly straightforward qualification. The

first four to go through the fourth fastest losers. This first heat has

this young lady, Svoboda of Poland. Next to her is Burghardt. But this

is a wide open event. Asha Philip going for Great Britain. No clear

favourite heading into this 60 metres. These heats might give us

some indication as to who has brought their best form to these

championships. The full line-up. So the top four. Swoboda really a

perfect example of a good 60-metre runner in terms of stature.

Powerfully built, and really starter. 7.07 last year. 7.15 this

year. Clearly away, Swoboda. Swoboda just get the nod. 7.22. Just

double-checking as they clattered into those crash mats at the end. So

Swoboda and Burghardt are well clear. For athletes to go through

but easy qualification, semifinals. Tomorrow, actually. The men have

their final today but not for the women.

Not a huge amount to pick over, fairly comfortable qualifying for

Swoboda and Burghardt, along Wakely. Force them to go through. But the

calibre of Swoboda and Burghardt, it was never going to be an issue. But

as you say Swoboda built like a 60 metres sprinter, short and powerful.

This will always be her strength rather than the 100th. She takes it

comfortably enough. Burghardt has a much longer stride and she can relax

towards the end. Swoboda keeping the pressure on a little bit. It was

very tight. The Portuguese and Spanish athletes taking the other

qualification spots. The rest into the 7.5s. The overall standard

really not that high. Others not really running back quickly to get

to the semis. The winning time in the end, 7.21.

We have seen already Swoboda and Burghardt, certainly in the 60

metres for the men, a raft of British contenders. And five of the

top six times in Europe this year has been achieved by British

athletes. For the women it is Asha Philip who is the obvious one. She

is not going here but she has got to be a contender for the gold medal. I

think so, she is in good shape. She has run a couple of races on the

European circuit, Birmingham perhaps not her best. Colin joining us in

the commentary box. European sprinting at the minute, when you

look at the overall quality on the women's and men's side, Great

Britain is right up there but overall, there is a question mark.

We have lost a bit of sprinting power, Frist not really producing

the best that they are capable of. Some of their key names missing. And

Germany, for the men, very good indoor sprinters. So we are lacking

a little bit I guess of quality all the way through. But the British

athletes are at the top and for us that is only a good thing. Well

there is a British athlete in this, Charlotte Wingfield who competes now

for water. One of the contenders there, Povh. But the calibre is not

of the highest at the moment. For the women.

The Belarussian champion there, Timanouskaya.

There is Charlotte Wingfield, Cardiff athletics club, who now runs

for Malta. She has a Maltese father. Welsh indoor champion. So you've got

four to go through automatically and the four fastest losers to

tomorrow's semifinals. This is the second five first-round heats.

A very, very good start by Povh who is dominating this race. She takes

it with a comfortable win. Povh a long way clear. Should run 7.14 in

Berlin last month. She didn't leave too much out there. 7.24 to win it.

Four going through automatically. Povh lays down her marker. Povh is

an indoor specialist. She dominates the field very early and keeps

moving away comfortably. She worked hard for this, really hard. You have

your warm up, it's early morning, the body isn't that could be the

reason why. She knows when she read this start that she would be the

dominant factor in this race. This time in the morning that is not too

bad. Povh goes through. STUDIO: I am disappointed not to see

Daphne Shippers. There was a while ago one Dutch woman who loved to fly

indoors. COMMENTATOR: Away they go. Cooman is

going to win this one. That was a remarkable turnout for Cooman of

Holland. Cooman wins it! A new world record. Cooman has retained her

60-metre title, a new world record. Cooman flying. She got away

brilliantly. Cooman is clear... Nelli Cooman wins the title and

defends it so well. Away they go. In the middle it's very close... Its

Cooman. That is quite remarkable. Cooman away well. Cooman gets it! A

marvellous performance. Nelli Cooman, five times winner of this

title for Holland in lane number six. Cooman with a blistering start.

Cooman in the photograph with the German. Cooman gets it, six times

the winner of this European title. STUDIO: There weren't too many

better than Nelli Cooman indoors. A real indoor specialist although she

never really transferred any of those performances to anything

significant outdoors. A typical so, heat number three decent

performances I guess so far. There is Akakpo, getting close to

her personal best. Keep making the point that because there is no

outstanding favourite, somebody could nick a surprise medal and get

into the start. I said congratulations to Andy yesterday,

has anyone said anything about the track? Nobody really came back to me

and said the track feels really fast or anything like that. I think they

are engrossed in the competition because they know everything is so

close and so tight. OK. Full line-up from the far side.

Kieran Neville in lane three, just 17. -- Ciara Neville. Kambundji

coming through the middle with Akakpo. We'll have to have a look at

that. Kambundji came to the fore in terms of recognition during those

European Championships. One of the big names, she lives in zero I

think. One of the big names of Swiss athletics. Didn't need to be too

quick there. I haven't seen anything too the only

thing we have seen is consistent 7.20s.. Which is fine, its first

thing in the morning. The people who are expected to deliver those are

delivering them. They are waking themselves up, putting themselves

through well. I think the semifinals are going to be very interesting.

STUDIO: Heat four in a moment and in heat five Great Britain's

representative Asha Philip goes. She arrived in Belgrade and we caught up

with her. How much are you looking forward to the weekend? I'm really

looking forward to it. I didn't get to compete two years ago so I'm

looking forward to it. Are you hungry for it? Most definitely, most

definitely hungry for it. What would be a success? I'd like to get a

medal, hopefully the shiniest of them all. But, you know, these girls

are running quite fast. I'm hoping to pull it out of the bike this

weekend and perform at my best. And, home with a shiny medal. What would

pulling it out of the bag mean? Definitely a personal best. I'm

going to have to run that to get a medal at this Championships.

Executing my races. How much do the nerves and the fact it's the

European Indoor Championships, how much does that change you

physically? I think I work off of that. The more scared I am

internally, I feel I perform my best. I probably wouldn't show it as

much. You'd know because I'd be quieter than usual! I know it works

well for me. Thinking back to last year, the relay quartet. How does

that taste of success change your confidence as an individual? It was

breathtaking, it makes you more hungry and makes you want to perform

at your best so you can have your own individual medal. I'm not saying

I'm going to disregard a relay medal because it's a beautiful feeling,

especially as we did it as a team. Now I've touched it, I feel like one

to myself! How much do you believe you can achieve that this weekend? I

can most definitely believe in myself this weekend. STUDIO: She's

always got a great smile and should like to put a smile on the fans

faces who have come here to cheer on the British athletes. Denise, should

like to pull it out the bag and get into the final, and actually it's

been said by Steve and Andrew it's a really open field, there's nobody

really dominating the indoor 60 sprints for the women said it would

be a shock gold but could she get amongst the medals? Should have to

execute the perfect place at the moment. She's a great starter, one

of the lead-off for by one. Everything has got to go right for

her this weekend. She's in a good place mentally. I spoke to her in

Birmingham, she was happy and looking forward to the season. It's

about making sure she now is the first 30 metres and anything can

happen. This is the start list the heat four. COMMENTATOR: I'm not sure

listening to Asha Philip talking about needing a personal best to win

the gold, she's run 7.09 before, I'm not sure that is required to win the

gold here. By Rebeka Haase. She has been

running well this season. We've talked about that. Equalling her

season's best, her personal best. A very impressive opener from the

German. Yes, German athletics hopefully is under a resurgence in

women's sprinting. Let's have a look. Out of the blocks. Everything

very controlled. Not really explosive but it's effective.

Hitting the ground quickly. Very well. That propels her forward. You

can see her moving away from the field. There's not a huge try a

phrase there. It's effective and it's far it's the fastest of the

morning. But was a controlled race there. That is a quick time, no

doubt about that. So the automatic qualifiers.

There is Asha Philip. She ran the first leg of Great Britain when they

won a bronze for Great Britain. She was an Olympic medallist. She had

that terrible injury, she was a trampoline -ist. She's only 26,

feels like she's been around a while. She still has a great passion

for trampolining and coaches kids. She was relaxed in Birmingham and

always has that smile on her face. She's a great advert for the sport.

She's the only female in the group now and I wondered how that would

affect but she said I'm loving it, she's in a good place. Which is

important for athletes. A lot of people will be surprised, good

morning Toni Minichiello, a lot of people would be surprised Britain

gets a bronze medal and has a rich crop coming through and we only have

one female in the 60 metres. What is the thinking behind people's

seasons? There's a couple of things here. I think Dina Asher-Smith would

be here if she wasn't injured. This is the year after the Olympics, when

you work so hard to get to the Olympics and perform it of a fallow

year. You take a six months sabbatical and get yourself ready to

run the Championships and everyone is looking at London and the World

Championships there. Absolutely. She will be looking to that if she can

get herself into the kind of shape to help Britain get going in the

relay. There will be an incredible

atmosphere and we look forward to them later in the year.

So the fifth heat and Asha Philip -- Asha Philip in lane before.

Mayer of Germany will be her main rival. Only third in the German

challenge but Germany are doing well with their hurdles events as well.

We had Healey running yesterday and another athletes who competed in the

same event had a terrible fall in that 400 heat. But thankfully she is

OK. So Asha Philip, 2014 was a big year for her. She ran that on a

couple of occasions. The world indoors in Poland. She would love to

rediscover that kind of form. Next to her it may well have been

the Greek athlete. We will wait and see. Hopefully that is a

straightforward fall start. Asha Philip, so far Haase was the one who

was looking best. But she has run a couple of events at 7.09. I think

that would be enough to take the gold medal. I think she could get

close to that time. It is going to be all about the start. The person

who runs the first 20 metres the most aggressively but also the most

controlled will put a lot of pressure on everyone else. Because

they know there is no clear favourite. Who can come past them.

So with that in mind I think Asha Philip will know that she needs to

nail a very good start. There is the red card. Her reaction time coming

up on the screen. They have confidence in their system again and

they have gone public. It was I think fairly obvious. I'm going to

call her Rafaela. That is her first name. Not obvious from that angle

but when it happened then it was fairly obvious. So in the middle

lanes we have Mayer and Asha Philip. You do not think about times in the

final, you get used to the starting system and get familiar with it and

the track. You can use these rounds, you have got to qualify, but this

all helps in terms of when the final comes.

Asha Philip gets a pretty good start, away from Mayer. Mayer comes

back. Not a great first time at 7.26 but got pretty well away from the

blocks. Good reactions. Good pick-up and then when she's into the running

then it is all over. No week to run superfast but a good start. -- no

need. A very good start. The most important thing, when you put your

foot down on the floor of that is when the power it can get through

you and you get into that beautiful running action. Which Asha actually

has. And then she can just wind down. As soon as she puts her foot

down she starts to eat up the ground very quickly. She stabs her

authority on the field. Everyone else is chasing. She looks far more

relaxed than everyone else and moving very smoothly indeed. She

glances up and says that is enough, thank you very much. It was this bit

of the race, ten, 20 metres, really impressive and then she can relax

through. A very good qualification. Mayer also clear and the Irish

athlete taking the fourth spot, Healy. We have the semifinals and

final tomorrow. So just to clear up the result and then we can speak to

Asha. A personal best for the Swiss athlete in third place. And I think

Asha is with us now. Great smile on your face, a fantastic start to your

competition. Top four to qualify, you want to qualify in a good lane

and that really did help me to win that. You have been able to ease

into the competition knowing you have the rest of the day to think

about the business then tomorrow? Well I'm going to go and sleep after

that early start. And have enough time to recover for the next day.

Not a morning person! There is a big difference! I was struggling past

morning. That time difference. So I'm just going to push forward and

work with the conditions. What do you think will be key to your

success tomorrow, you looked so accomplished today. I do not want to

just kill myself, three rounds is harder. The boys had to do it in one

day but we have an extra day to recover and I'm grateful for that.

But definitely good recovery and be able to compete tomorrow. The good

news for Asha, only an afternoon session tomorrow so she does not

have to get up to early! It makes me laugh when athletes and especially

sprinters, actually, that is not fair. No athletes like mornings. But

in the world of combined events, 6:30am is a lie in! At times I had

to wake up at four o'clock. On our way and getting on the bus at

6:30am! I was lucky enough to be involved in

the London Marathon and getting a lift at five o'clock in the morning,

and these athletes are getting themselves ready, they off in a

couple of hours. She will be all right! But she looks good, it was a

good start and she was also able to ease up. Had she managed to get,

that was the false start and I think she would have gone out much better.

This was OK, not the best, she can do much better. But what I love

about Asha is that pick-up, it is so dynamic. She can move away from the

field very quickly. But she is relaxed, doing just enough to

qualify and secure the first place spot. That will give her a good lane

for tomorrow, job done. Excellent work. Were you impressed? It is a

confident run in the field. The 7.26 is quicker but the rest of the field

did not break through 7.30 so it was a pretty soft heat. My only concern

is the second part of the race. She gets out and reacts but she never

gets those hips under. Her fight position is quite low so she's not

apply as much force as the German girl beside her. Not hitting the

floor with that same force in the second part of the race. And that is

where big business and will be. She will react and put people under

pressure but then others may come through if she cannot get that

force. Job done here but if you want to step up you will have two address

that second part of the race. Well of course it is the man in just a

moment and Great Britain have three men going in the 60 metres heats.

Coming in just a few moments time. But a certain British athlete who

did not just dominate outside but he liked it indoors as well.

Linford Christie getting ready for the final. The fastest qualifier.

The start is so important, it is his weakest spot. If he gets a good one

he could win. Away first time, he is away badly! Linford Christie

storming through and he takes the gold medal from a standing start.

The final of the European 60 metres indoor Championships. Linford

Christie got away reasonably well. He comes storming through! Linford

Christie wins and takes the European title.

So ready for the first heat. Linford Christie, absolutely fantastic. In

1994 we had Colin Jackson, he's blushing now! Look out for the young

Danish talent, Hari. And it is a good start from Hari. Clutching the

hamstring. That is such a shame for Hari. He is a big talent. Mancini

was one of those to take advantage. It is a shame. He was the winner of

the Danish indoor title, Hari. 19 years old, the world at his feet but

there he has suffered, clutching his hamstring. Mancini on hand to come

through. Three go through automatically. Let's take a look at

the replay. Out of the blocks really well, aggressive. Worked hard for

the first 20, 30 metres. Then bang, the hamstring goes. And from there

on he is just frustrated. Nothing that you can do. When you hamstring

goes, nothing whatsoever. A flying start as well and he was looking

good. Almost 20 metres out, he was hanging on from there and almost

held on for third place as well. That third place would be pointless

because you know there is no way that he could come back and start

again. Such a shame for the young man. So there we go, Mancini going

through automatically after that misfortune for Hari.

The defending European indoor champion is next, Richard Kilty. Not

all plain sailing to get here, he was disqualified in the British

Championships at the trial. And he might have that on his mind with

these false starts here. The job of an athlete is to focus and with all

the distractions going around it is not ideal but he has got a job to do

and he will be mindful of that. This is a wide-open competition. There is

a real opportunity for the UK to do well in this event. He is defending

European champion. We have another Brit, they are very strong in

Europe. And this is his moment. And he is well suited to the 60 metres

indoors. He has been world champion as well and it suits his style of

sprinting, but explosive style. I agree. And looking at how strong we

are in Europe, eight British athletes in the top ten. And you

would say definitely three in the final. I think there is a chance of

one, two, three. We are about dominate in sprinting Europe. Some

of the Italians could sneak a medal place but we are in the driving seat

in this event. Richard Kilty, who of course reminded us in Birmingham

that he became a dad last year as well, he has a new motivation. He

has also changed his coaching setup, life has moved on for him in the

past year. He has changed his coaching setup quite a bit over the

years which is a bit unsettling. As an athlete he has grown and he is

maturing and he knows what he needs. And he is well suited to the 60, he

knows it is about getting out. This will set up his season very well if

he can maintain his form and not think about the winning before he

has actually done the running. Good advice. Steve Cram, let's see if he

can get off to a good start. It is an interesting point with Richard

and his starting. I was in Sheffield and there was a bit of deja vu about

that little scenario at the UK Championships. He did not seem to be

that bothered at the time. But here it is a different matter. World

indoor champion back in 2014, do not forget that. And a great exponent of

the skill of 60 metre running indoors. Andy Robinson won the UK

trial and ran very well on the day. And Andy has picked his races

carefully. He will be going in the fourth heat and then we have Theo

Etienne. Great Britain have never had that one, two, three. Close to

it a couple of times. Jason Gardner and Mark Lewis Francis

12 back in 2002. -- won two back in 2002. I'll bring Colin in on this.

Noted for not doing false starts! Obviously when that false start rule

came in we got used to not having any false starts. The discipline of

athletes changed. It is a skill, isn't it? Yes. I think the way you

articulated that is correct. It's a discipline you've got to learn and

you've got to practice in training as well. Even when you're doing your

practice starts you should think about holding your position in the

set position. Your gun is the release, that is it. You don't need

to think about anything else. The only thing experience can tell, the

only variable is the time from set to the gun. Every start is slightly

different. Even a couple of thousands of a second is the only

variable. That can be quite frustrating. In mainland Europe they

seem to release you very quickly from the set position to the offer.

In Britain there is more of a habit of holding you in the blocks. When

you travel the globe the more races you do, the more experience you

game. Menga is 29, he is only running new personal best this year.

Kilty right in the middle wearing the different coloured number,

deflating to -- denoting the defending champion. Kilty hasn't

gone that quick this year. Let's see how he gets his campaign underway.

There are three races for these men today, semifinals and then final

later. Kilty gets away reasonably well with Menga alongside him. Kilty

ease away. I think Volko and Menga will get the other two spots. Not

his best start, it was OK and save, gives him a chance to get familiar

with the starter. Moved nicely in the middle of the race. 6.61, a good

start first thing in the morning. The important thing is to get it

under your belt. Get on the track and perform. Richard has won this

title before, he's won the world indoors title. This is his

territory. He feels confident running the 60 metres. When he

starts to move away he looks relaxed and controlled which has got to be

the most important thing. Doesn't need to put his foot down heavily on

the gas because he knows he's probably the best in the field. Once

he starts moving away nobody is coming back to him. The semifinal

and final will be very different. You'll have pressure all around him.

But he's done it before and I'm sure he's capable of doing again. Surely

he's thinking, I'm just cruising this, the last bit. I don't know why

he's so stressed about the crop. We're always looking to see how fast

we are going -- clock. Richard, a job well done. You've

been had time and again and won the big medal. Ahead of a race like that

do you feel there is an aura around you? Definitely, coming into the

European champion, there's a bit of an aura that comes with it. Tell me

about the starts. You've probably seen and heard what was happening

here yesterday with the problematic starts, did that play on your mind

ahead of the race? I was warned of it, I sat in the blocks and was

probably the last one out. I've got the confidence that I can come

through. I pulled through nice and comfortable. It was job done, no

issues for me today. More to come for you later but you've got three

races in a day. How tough can that be? Really tricky, the last two

Championships I've been to, there's been a heat on the first day then

semifinals the next day. It's a bit tricky, I'll go back, watch a movie,

have a nap, get some food, speak to the family and comeback nice and

relaxed. Looking forward to getting back here this evening. You are a

dad, how has that changed life? It's amazing, I'm engaged to my fiancee

now. Got a little baby, hello to those guys back home. I love you

both. My family, my mum, my dad, my brothers and sisters, my nieces and

nephews, everyone cheering at home, it gives me extra motivation to make

them all proud, especially carrying the same name as my little boy, he's

my motivation now. His fiancee is a Lithuanian triple jumper. Richard

Junior has got some good sporting jeans. He's very confident when his

indoors, Richard, and he feels like keys to the manner born. He did a

little number one signed to the camera and you like that. I like

that. Richard is a very passionate individual and that's a great

strength in this environment. He can be -- it can be a weakness, at the

British championships you saw how distracted he can be buy something.

I think you'll be focused. He's got to be the favourite to win this.

He's in good shape. His big opposition will come from the Brits,

Robertson and Etienne. This is like a national Championships. Let's have

a look at Theo Etienne. He burst onto the scene last year, he's was

reserved for the World Indoors, he's five foot one of the shortest

sprinters in world sprinting. -- he is five foot four. I don't know much

about him either. Diminutive figure. That's a great time, his personal

best. He's right up there. He could, if he keeps his head, this is a big

deal for him. Don't underestimate how it impacts a young athlete.

He'll never have been in the situation before. If he can manage

all that, the smile suggests he's quite nervous as well. He should be

fine. Just get this heat out of the way and let's have a look at his

technique. He's adding a bit of height with his hairdo! It reminds

me of the footballer Jason Roberts. He looks relaxed but it's all very

new for him. If you come to a championships like that, don't over

respect the opposition. You are one of the fastest in Europe and you

deserve to be held. He just needs to get out there. He's coached by Ryan

Freckleton who is one of the leading sprint coaches now. He'll understand

it. The thing is, get out there and run. Let's get out there with Andrew

Cotter and Colin. COMMENTATOR: There is the start list. Theo Etienne in

lane four. He'll have good competition from Rodriguez and Rene

on either side. Most of the sprinters tower over him but he is a

flyer. Austin Hamilton, the 19-year-old from Sweden is in six.

Clear a good start by Etienne. Etienne is

flying down the track, takes the victory. Good run also from

Hamilton. Etienne, there is a determined look on his face.

Etienne, 6.64, and there is talk of a possible British one, two, three.

We talked about him being a youngster and perhaps the thing he

will have to deal with is going through the rounds and dealing with

three races in one day. He's shown himself to be pretty composed and

strong in the first of those races. Yes, the strength of British

sprinting means that when you are qualifying you are under a lot of

pressure. You've got to qualify for our team. Dealing with pressure and

handling it all, by now he's used this. He's really sharp out of the

blocks. Aggressive, good cadence, which is ultimately what you need

over the 60 metres. Pushing on. You can achieve that by getting a good

left both in front and extension at the back. That will increase your

range. Ultimately eat up as much ground as you possibly can. When

you're reasonably short, you need to maximise that stride length. He's

good, he's powerful and he's been rewarded with that 6.62 and Victor

E. Good performance. Well done. Tell me the nerves that the start on this

kind of occasion for you. I was quite nervous at first, but you've

got to treat it like any other race, to be honest. I was happy to get it

over and done with. Go back, recover and get ready for the semi. We were

talking to Richard about three races in a day potentially, how does that

affect your preparations? You need to learn how to recover properly.

You've got to make sure you don't mess about, you get back, keep your

head down and keep focused really. You were a reserve for the team in

the World Indoors last year, how much has that helped you coming

here, to have the taste of what the environment is like? I'm really

happy to be hair. I was disappointed not to go to Portland but everything

happens for a reason. I'm here now and hopefully I can perform for

everyone out. Tell me about the support you're getting from Richard,

and the general team and how they've been helping you. They've been

giving me advice, don't play with any of these mind games, do your

thing and you'll be fine at the end of the day. All the best. STUDIO:

Keeps it simple and job done, his time has been rounded down to 6.62.

How exciting to be a young athlete and experiencing this for the first

time, performing where it matters, not having any regrets. Making

something of a name of himself. I loved his interviewing. It showed a

bit about his personality. Very relaxed, knows what he's got to do.

Very mature attitude. Don't mess about, he said. Also knowing how to

manage yourself in between these rounds is very important, especially

when you're not used to it. Excellent interviewing. He's got

swagger which is nice. His running style, he's leaving his foot on the

floor a bit too long. He's running completely through the tie which

means he's over striding up front. Because of that big open stride it's

got a bit of a braking effect before you get your hips over the top. If

he tidies that up... Toni said earlier that British men's sprinting

is really strong at the moment. His swaggering a bit there, it's

contagious! Rightly so. They are good. They know what is at stake

here. He's been running really well indoors this season. If he doesn't

believe he can raise his game then he's no business being here. I think

he could surprise a few people here at this Championships. Some of these

guys have something to prove with not going to the Olympics. This is

their time. His first sport was rugby but he's very much a sprinter

now. British indoor champion, Andrew Robertson. Let's get over to Steve

Cram. COMMENTATOR: Interesting competition to Andrew Robertson.

He's in great shape, he's got to convert those really good runs he

does in Sheffield. He set his personal best there last year before

going to the World Indoors where he didn't run as quickly. He doesn't

want that to be the case this year. He's coached by his dad Sam and he's

in great shape. Very confident. A good starter, you have to be to run

the 60. You want him to come into the big race arena and convert that

potential that he shows up Sheffield into a championship performance. He

doesn't want to leave his fastest time of the year at home, as it

were. Every opportunity for Andy Robertson, come the final. First

he's got to get through here. There is the top three. We thought

of years ago that Tumi was going to be a cracking runner. Molinari from

San Marino. So probably Tumi, again another typical 60 metre runner.

Rose in lane three comic equalled his personal best this year.

Robertson has not been beaten this year on all of his races. He did not

go to the Birmingham Grand Prix, did not need to, he had guaranteed

selection of the British Championships. Not such a good

start. Rose gets away really well. He's just going to stick this one

ahead of Tumi. Some names you can explode out of the box. I'm hoping

that was safe for Andrew Robertson. The safe thing to do is to stay in

the blocks. He came out, got into his running nicely and got past the

fast starting Rose. So we have three through. You need to brush off the

cobwebs. Your British champion, under a bit of pressure in that

sense. And he got caught sleeping a little bit on the blocks. But when

you're a good enough, you will qualify and he certainly is. The man

everyone is looking at anti-qualified very comfortably. Out

of the blocks, even though you take up the reaction and look at what he

does when he hit the floor. That is important, that is when you generate

power. You're going through all those bases in 60 metres running and

he seems to do that very well. He is British champion, this is his big

opportunity. He is coming into this competition knowing that he is

capable. We are keeping our fingers crossed because this is the

semifinals. Well done, Andrew, we were talking

about the start and the Finnish combine. I think I missed about ten

in the start with the reaction. But I am in really good shape and

confident for the events today, really happy. We know you are an

explosive start, with the shenanigans going on yesterday at

the warnings you had, did that affect you today? Not really. I was

watching the TV and I thought what was going on but it gives you the

mindset to concentrate on yourself. And winning yesterday was motivation

as well. It was in the back of my mind but not distracting. And you

have three guys here, all representing Great Britain so

proudly, all pushing each other, you all want those medals and it could

be potential one, two, three. It is definitely not a given but I have

been racing Richard Kilty since I was in use. It is going to be a race

to watch, that is for sure. Looking forward to it. Thank you.

It is going to be interesting. The British rivalry starting to come

through. They will be back this evening but he's safely through. His

reaction time 0.71 but that is understandable. They will have to be

sharper in the semifinals. So we have semifinals and then the final

right at the end this evening. So it is Richard Kilty, Andrew Robertson

and feel Essien. The times are relevant, it was three wins and

looking very impressive. So those are the 16 men through to the

semifinals. The multi-inventors have moved from

the 60 metres across to the second event of this heptathlon. The long

jump. Samuelsson of Sweden, the first attempt. They get three each.

Over seven metres for Samuelsson. A decent start for him. 22 years of

age. He is in the form and certainly one to watch. A good discipline as

well. Very clean. Showing good composure. 7.40 his season best,

Samuelsson. Urena takes his first attempt in the long jump. He hit the

ball hard, you could hear that. Really attacked it well. Urena

trying to convert that speed, he does not look impressive. Look at

that, that has cost him. He did not get the lift that he would have

expected. But wait for the measurement.

It is 7.37 for Urena. A decent first attempt despite the distance behind

the board. Ashley Bryant has been jiggling around, doing his drills,

looking to get support from the crowd. He ran a lifetime best in the

60s. Just to remind you. 7.06. Faster than he ran at the end of

January in the Czech Republic when he put together a really healthy

heptathlon. Anything in excess of 7.50 would be great. Is it a white

flag? It is. Right, then. This is a really good start for Ashley Bryant.

Just made a slight adjustment but continued with the momentum, the

speed. Space to spare. Wherever this is measured, it is worth a bit more.

Tim topped were we should mention, a British record-holder. A very good

start at 7.60, taking the into the lead overall.

And that is a Captain Charisma performance, in the second place

overall after two events at a great start to the day. A really good

start. It is about keeping that positive mental frame. He is in good

form and contrast his body, but just go through the motions but really

trying to get the maximum out of himself. And second so far is really

good. We will be leaving BBC Two in about eight minutes and going onto

the red Button, with qualifying for the men's high jump and women's long

jump amongst other things. Jazmin Sawyers going in the long jump

qualification along with Lorraine Ugen. She's very much in amongst it

in Belgrade. Really looking forward to seeing you compete, Jazmin. Do

you love it as much as it appears? I really do, competing is my favourite

thing to do. Training is great but it is not competing at

Championships, that is what I'm here for. I love to compete. When I get

out in the full stadium and you have expectation, people watching, I love

it. I feel it is the performance and I can have fun with it. It is a

chance finally to show how the training has been going and show

everyone what we have been working on. You absolutely thrive when

pressure is on, when the spotlight is on. Where did it come from? I

think my love for competing under pressure probably comes from

performing on stage as a kid and kind of having that spotlight on.

And going right now you need to perform and put together everything

you have worked for, remember all your lines. I think that is

transferred over. Either that or I am just that kind of person, but

competing on bigger stages with more pressure is where I feel I come

alive. Ivana Spanovic is coming in as a Brit of course and her posters

are everywhere. Her face is everywhere, you cannot get away from

her in Belgrade! How do you feel thing that? It is nice, she's a

friend, and one of the friendliest people on the circuit. Seeing how

popular she's here it is nice to see that nice to see there is a place

that celebrates long jump so much and is so excited by that. It is

hard for the country not to get excited about that with someone so

famous. So when I see Ivana Spanovic everywhere I think this is going to

be a great competition because everyone is looking forward to it.

So she is a friend, but you want to win? Of course. A lot of girls in

the competition are friends but it does not mean you do not want to

beat them. The friendship is there but competition is more important. I

come to every championship, to win. I do not think you should set your

sights any lower. I want a personal best and I would like to think I

could really push it. We will see. Bobsleigh competitor, singer, long

jumper, a really talented woman. Welcome to Steve Cram. It is a rich

time for British women past night long jumping. It is a good time, and

it is tough to get into the team. That I think generates about high

level of performance. It will be interesting, it is a bouncy runway

and they helped athletes struggled in the first round. But also that

three metre which changes the most visually as you are running in.

Basanta bit further away than it normally is. They need to get used

to that and then it should be fine. And also pushing for the medals will

be Lorraine Ugen. I think she overly said she sometimes things she does

not get the attention but she deserves. She is a very good,

world-class long jumper. Jazmin gets all the attention because of the

other things that she is doing. Shara Proctor is a different

character again. But I think Lorraine has a good chance. Ivana

Spanovic is the one to beat. It will be a cracking atmosphere on Sunday

with their local hero, Ivana Spanovic. Let's talk about Laura

Muir, we are coming up to a really brilliant afternoon of athletics.

Ten gold medals up for grabs. She is going to win. That will be one to

watch. Going to win. That is the build-up to that Don! Laura is in

the shape of her life. There is some decent people in there but she will

win. I do not know what else you want me to say! Well be there at

6:45pm. A really exciting race to watch. Absolutely. Nielsen is gutsy

and she will be prepared to take it on. She's got to be brave and bold.

Thank you very much. We are going onto the Red Button. Steve Cram is

going to get a copy for everyone! The athletes preparing for the

qualifiers, mainly in the jobs. See you shortly on the Red Button.

# Jump! Great to see Robbie Grabarz back in

action. Absolutely superb performance for

Ivana Spanovic. Oh, the dragon.

Dylan Thomas. Richard Burton.

Barry Island.