Day 1, Part 1 Athletics: World Indoor Championships

Welcome to the seaside town of Sopot in Poland. Proud owner of the

longest wooden pier in Europe. Sopot is proud to be hosting the

World Indoor Championships. Some 600 athletes are here from 143 countries

all hoping to create magical memories over three days of

competition. And hopefully we'll have many more

such moments to enjoy over the next few days here in Sopot. Welcome to

you at home. Welcome to Denise Lewis alongside me. We have a young and

youthful British team out here. 34 strong, but high hopes? Yes, we have

and it is a chance for the young athletes to make a name for

themselves here in Sopot. It is a busy season. The first of three

majors championships. This is going to be an exciting one and we just

hope that the young athletes use this opportunity to get medals and

for a lot of them, be on the podium and you know, we all know funding is

tight. Here they have an opportunity to get paid as well. One of the

athletes in question, Laura Muir is back here. A different mentality.

People are looking at her as maybe a medal contender. A different Laura

Muir. She has an impressive indoor season. It is going to be

interesting how she conducts herself. I think there has been a

lot of talk. A lot of hype about whether she could medal here and

win. She leads the rankings. She has a great opportunity, but let's just

let her do her thing. She is only 20. She is only 20. She is remature

and -- very mature and looking at the bigger picture going forward. I

think she is a very bright person and everyone says she is

level-headed. She just has to feel the competition and really get used

to being out on this stage. What does it feel like to be the person

expected to perform and get medals? It is different. She has to get used

to that. Also she is trying to juggle both her veterinary studies

with a career in athletics as well. How difficult a juggling act will

that be, do you think? It is not easy, but it is do-able. She

level-headed. She has got a great team around her and I think she will

progress through the season depending on how well she will do

here, she will be able to make decisions. We have got British

interests straightaway. The 400 meter heats coming up with Margaret

Adeoye. It is good morning to Steve. Good morning, the first event of

what promises to be a great weekend here in Sopot. There is one of the

local athletes, that's Justyna Swiety from Poland and we're hoping

we'll have a big crowd here. It is just filling up. It is just after

10am. There is plenty of Polish athletes with chances of medals and

we are hoping for lots of success for Great Britain as well.

We have got mens and women's races. The first two and the four fastest

losers will go through to the semifinals. Margaret Adeoye is going

in this first one. Two athletes for each country in case you are

wondering how things work at the World Indoor Championships. It won't

be too easy here, for Margaret although she had a good start, the

endear season is pretty -- indoor season is pretty short, she has

Patricia Hall and Regina George and this young Polish athlete, Justyna

Swiety. Regina George beat Margaret Adeoye in the Birmingham meet. She

hasn't got the best of draws. In indoors, gives us the chance when

they've in the early round anyway to just use the outside lane. She is

drawn in three, and Regina George in five.

A dream start for our first race. Margaret Adeoye started well. And

made up the stagger on the Polish athlete. It is Patricia Hall setting

the pace. Margaret Adeoye has attacked this 200 meters and she may

come into the home straight with the chance of taking of lead. Regina

George and Patricia Hall cutting her off. It is Regina George with the

lead. Margaret Adeoye on the inside. Just the first two to go through

here. Patricia Hall just boxing Margaret Adeoye in. She is going to

have to stay strong and maybe look for a gap on the inside. Regina

George leading them. Hall on the outside. The Polish athlete is

making up the ground quickly and Margaret Adeoye looks like she maybe

fading. Regina George looks strong. It is Justyna Swiety of Poland

finishing. We we wins it. Well George was expected to win this

heat. She did that and it was tough. That's her fastest of the year. You

have got to make a decision and Margaret Adeoye decided to attack

that 200 and maybe paid for it on the second lap. You know, it is a

really difficult decision to make because you are running really

quick. You are going about a 200 pace which is six or seven tenths of

your lifetime best of indoor running. These athletes in front of

Margaret have got more experience. A little bit more turn of pace at this

time of the year and they have competed a lot on the US circuit.

You can imagine the experience they show has put them in the position

that they are in. That's a good time by Regina and she will be happy with

that to start off her campaign at the World Indoors with a season's

best. As Colin said, a really solid

performance for Regina George. The heats are not going to be too easy.

Can't hang around. Can't afford to hang around. Based in the States and

still just 23 years of age and young Justyna Swiety checking on the

scoreboard. The results are coming up with Margaret Adeoye in second

place which is not right. So that's why the Polish athlete is looking a

little perplexed because she knows she came second. Regina George is

looking up and sees her season's best up there. There is a massive

big scoreboard above the head of the athletes here. Steve, I was scouring

around to see if there were any flags around, but I don't see any

red flags. I don't understand why that result has come through, but we

will soon hear exactly what. That's the Polish high jumper. Just

cruising over the opening height of one meter 79. The crowd are

entranced as to what's going on out there. Making note of something

that's going on in the arena. The result is being changed on the

computer for Justyna Swiety in that first heat of the 400 meters and she

will find, although they have walked off now, that she will be awarded a

personal best. Margaret Adeoye, despite finishing fourth, there is

the result for you. A season's best for Margaret. A tough heat. Tough

qualification, but Justyna Swiety's surprise package there with a new

personal best. There are fastest loser spots available for the

semifinals tonight. Margaret Adeoye can just cross her fingers and hope.

Well, there is the line-up for heat two. Lisanne De Witte, Shana Cox,

Joanna Atkins and Kaliese Spencer. So the athletes are out in the

arena. There is Joanna Atkins who is second from the inside. From the

outside I should say. We have Kaliese Spencer the specialist 400

meter hurdler, she finished fourth. That was in the London Games. Joanna

Atkins from the USA and Shana Cox So from left to right, we have got

Kaliese Spencer, there is Joanna Atkins, she is inside, a former US

Colliegte champion and Shana Cox and Lisanne De Witte.

And away we go. Shana Cox has gone off particularly hard, but

especially as she has got Joanna Atkins outside her. Shana Cox and

Joanna Atkins have gone off particularly quickly. It is going to

be a tussle once they break for the inside between Kaliese Spencer and

Shana Cox and Shana Cox is in a bit of difficulty there. Joanna Atkins

just cruising at the front. Kaliese Spencer moving into first place

though. Shana Cox has got a real battle on her hands and she has

Lisanne De Witte outside her and both British girls are going to find

themselves in a bit of trouble. And that looked as though it was Lisanne

De Witte who came through to take second place. Shana Cox was run out

of it. It is a real shame that, Paul. She was having a really

descent indoor season. The winner, a person who is better known as a 400

meter hurdler outdoors, she is coming into form nicely. It is

really nice to see some of the Jamaicans remember performing here.

It is great for the crowd and the other athletes to see the talented

outdoor athletes performing inside. The Commonwealth Games is the big

thing for the Jamaicans this year. Kaliese Spencer hasn't got an

outdoor title this year yet. We expect a lot from her this year.

Kaliese Spencer, her time was confirmed in first place.

well, we are up and running your in Sopot, not the best of starts for

Britain but plenty more to come throughout this morning and early

afternoon. This is how the timetable looks. The men's 400 metres heat is

is coming up with Nigel Levine and Richard Ark for Britain going for

gold in that. Then we have the men's 1500 metres, Lee Emanuel and Chris

O'Hare there. Later we have seen men's 800 metres heats with mocked

our Mohammed and Andrew Osagie. We are on BBC Two until midday and then

we are on the BBC Red Button for one hour or so after that. If you want

to get involved at home from the comfort of your own living room or

at your own office you can do. This is how...

Denise, let's bring UN after the 400 metres of Margaret, and the Shana

Cox will be disappointed with that. Definitely Shana Cox seemed to look

heavy on her legs. I would have expected both of those

to run much, much better. With such tough qualifications you have to be

ready and sharp. We have heard this from athletes in the past, where

they say they are not a morning person, how much of a factor is

that? Listen, you have to factor that into

your preparation. If you are going to a major

championships you have to repair and I am sure they have prepared well

but they just seemed off the ball today.

They are to key members of the 4x400m team. They will come back for

that, hopefully with renewed vigour and determination to do better. With

someone like Christine Ohuruogu running, she will be making sure

those girls picked themselves up because their job is not technically

finished here. There is still a fourth at -- 4x4

hundreds metres to content, they will be disappointed but they have

to pick themselves up now. Denise, thank you, the women's 400 metres

heats continues. There is the result of that previous

heat, just cleared up with Lisanne De Witte getting a new personal

best, exactly the same time as Joanna Atkins of the USA. That does

tell us that Margaret Adeoye is still in a qualifying position at

the moment. She is the third fastest loser but we still have two more

races to come. We were just chatting saying maybe she was unlucky in that

first heat which was very quick. This one could be very quick,

Melissa Caddle, Nicky Van Leuveren from the Netherlands. Malgorzata

Holub from Poland, the vastly talented Shaunae Miller and the

newcomer to semi-resolver. -- Kseniya Ryzhova.

Malgorzata Holub will be trying to join her team-mate, Justyna Swiety

from the first race. This is Kseniya Ryzhova, who won the

Russian championships fairly comfortably, ran away from the rest

of the field on the second lap, 51.03. She has not raced outside of

Russia this season. 51.03 is the second-fastest of the pack leads to

argue in Poland for these World Indoor Championships. But Shaunae

Miller in lane five, just 19 years old, former world youth champion,

great 200 metres and 400 metres runner. She was fourth in the World

Championships at 200 metres last year. They are concentrating on the

other athletes here, but watch out for her, I think she will be a real

threat here. In fact, Shaunae Miller beat Francena Mccorory last year,

and if that tells you nothing else, it will tell you that she is in good

shape to run a 400 metres, as well. The local director is concentrating

on Malgorzata Holub, but I think she will struggle to get through gear.

Watch out for Nicky Van Leuveren who is having a very good indoor season

and quickly improving in lane three. The third heat of the women's 400

metres. The first two to go through, the

Russian got left in the blocks are little by Shaunae Miller. The 200

metres runner starting very quickly. The 19-year-old grabbing this race

by the scruff of the neck at an early stage.

Nicky Van Leuveren moving into third place. Kseniya Ryzhova decide she is

going to set on the inside of the tall bony knee. There is a big gap

between Nicky Van Leuveren and Malgorzata Holub. Shaunae Miller

running a little wide, using her experience, making sure that Kseniya

Ryzhova has to work hard to get ahead of her. Nicky Van Leuveren

trying to get back to them and I don't think she will, Shaunae Miller

still looking supreme talent lay -- supremely talented.

I think this girl, Colin, remember last year she really showed what a

talent she is, former world youth champion and world junior champion,

just missed out on a medal in the world outdoor Championships. She

always has choices but as a 400 metres prospect she has something

special. She is going to be tough to beat. It was very relaxed running

all the way. The first 200 metres she was doing

23.72, which shows they have a good turn of speed at the moment. I think

come the semifinal both these women will go comfortably under the 52

second mark we saw as the winning time. But Miller, from the Bahamas,

19-year-old, a beautiful, rangy runner and a talent we are all

looking forward to seeing later on, perhaps in the Commonwealth Games.

Of course, her nation are holding the world really Championships, I

know that she has already said she is looking forward to that. The

Bahamas themselves have a great relay team, particularly in the

sprints. A good run from her. I am watching the times because Kseniya

Ryzhova will get the second qualifying but it will mean that

Margaret Adeoye is still in a qualifying position with one race to

come, she is still one of the fastest losers.

Ryan Whiting from the United States next to go in this shot put

qualifying. Certainly one of the world's leading shot putters. He is

quite squat, compact, well put together. Rotates quickly and that

is just about one the qualifying line. -- on the line.

We will soon get an idea as to how far it was.

Certainly one of the leading contenders to take this title.

If you can tell the difference, 20.75. That is exactly five

centimetres beyond the qualifying distance, so that is fine.

Blanka Vlasic, well-known figure in high jumping circles I wonder how

much she has left behind. That is good, 1.95 is what is

required. I just wonder how much she has lost

on her competitive edge. Just to tidy up that result from the

previous heat, Shaunae Miller with a season 's best 52.1. Kseniya

Ryzhova, the Russian, we will see if she improves. Those times of third,

fourth and fifth mean that Margaret Adeoye is still hanging onto a

qualifying position for the semifinals.

There is the line-up for the fourth and final heat.

Francena Mccorory's agent, John Regis, became Britain's's first ever

world indoor champion in Budapest 25 years ago.

She was sixth in Moscow, 2013, when she led in the 200 metres. Outside

her, Esther Cremer of Germany, five times the German indoor champion.

Inside her is Denisa Rosolov?, one of the leading European 400 metres

runners. European silver-medallist. There is Samantha Edwards. She is

from Antigua and Barbuda. So, Edwards, Alexander, Rosolova,

Mccorory and Cremer. There is Francena Mccorory. Relay

gold-medallist in London 2012. Away we go, Mccorory got off to a

very slow start and Esther Cremer went off very quickly. Absolutely

blasting away, Esther Cremer, but no ten three is beginning to get into

her stride. Although Rosolova and Alexander just about up on her.

Mccorory comes through into second place. Esther Cremer it is. Rosolova

wins second just behind. Rosolova should be strong enough. And Cremer

is going to struggle here. She might get a fastest loser spot.

And, just, it is Rosolova from Mccorory. 52.36 - that is quite

reasonable. You have to work hard in the streets. That was good. It was a

good, solid performance, but, you know, I always like to see the main

contenders are really be dominant. Mccorory did not really sure that

much dominance and looking at the result, she will be in second

place, which means she will not be particularly seeded in the heats of

the semifinals, which means she will be a bit of a wild card. The

semifinals she may lose the good lane, courtesy of not winning this

race and it could be awkward for her, because you could possibly have

three medallists in the same semifinal. It will be interesting,

but you make a decision when you do the qualifying rounds the way you

are going to qualify, so it is going to be interesting indeed. We are

still waiting to see, I think Steve may have some news whether Margaret

has got through. Yes, definitely, Colin.

Those times were obviously tight but just working out in her favour, so

Margaret Adeoye will be in the semifinals. We will get the full

result in a second but that is good news for her. The fourth fastest

losers from those four races, that first heat was pretty tough. Back to

the high jump. Ruth Beitia, 1.88 now. Add one

attempts so far in the competition at 1.84. This is her second attempt.

She looks very comfortable. Well, this is her last season. She

has been around for... How long? She is 34 years old now, so see has been

around for a long, long time. Anyway, success that at one point

Denisa Rosolov? given given the verdict, 52.37. -- Rosolova. Esther

Cremer in third place, 52.71. Those 400 heats, we have got the men

coming up very, very shortly. It didn't look too good for the British

athletes. A couple of personal bests getting people through. The names

more me, Shaunae Miller looks good. Kaliese Spencer looked good as well.

The draw for the semifinal will be crucial. Margaret Adeoye does make

it through as we said by a couple of hundredths so she will be back for

the semifinals. The men are up next. It is going to

be pretty tough for the men as well. The way the draw works. I know that

we've got 800 meter heats coming up again around about lunch time. We

will go back to the high jump. The local favourite and just manages to

get over. It only just, wasn't it Justyna Kasprzycka. It will be an

exciting qualifying competition. Kamila Licwinko There. Here is

forefavourite Pole. You can bet this is going to go a long way. Well, it

is not as far as some of the previous throws that we have seen.

Ryan Whiting was out to the qualifying mark. That's around about

20 meters or thereabouts. 19.99 it is. A good guess. So 19.99

is givenle. Tomasz Majewski is looking for more. He has three

throws. That's below the 19 meter mark. And very close to a foul. In

fact, it was a foul. So... Just to let you know at home, we are

at the mercy, pictures wise, of the host broadcaster here. It is not in

the BBC's control. We thought we would let you know that.

Christine is part of the women's 4x4 women's relay team. I caught up with

her yesterday. My coach said go out and enjoy

yourself. I said which part of the 400 am I supposed to enjoy. I'm

still training hard. I call it more than a maintenance year rather than

a rest year. You don't do half a programme or half a day. You have to

come in and put the work in. I think fun is a bit of a misnomer. Rest is

a bit of a misnomer. You just train and you see where it takes you. It

will be a big year, Commonwealths and European Games. What are you

targeting? Definitely the Commonwealth Games. For us to have

another home games is something that everyone is really excited about and

it will be great to be a part of that. The Europeans will come soon

after that. We will deal with the Commonwealth Games first and then we

will see what the plans are for the Europeans. Christine never liked

competing indoors individually, but she does compete in the relay and it

kick-started her season rather well. A gold medal as part of the British

women's team. Yes, I think she enjoys running and being part of the

camaraderie. They have a great relationship and they boost each

other's confidence and they get the job done. It is a whole different

ball game, Colin. I should say welcome. It is nice of you to join

us up here. We have seen her compete in the relay, but she is a

single-minded athlete and she loves the single lane and the 400

ourdoors, did -- outdoors. There is a bit of bumping and barging It is

like an 800 meter race. Steve Cram ran a very fast 400 meters, but

these 400 meters are going quicker. You are not used to this at all

because you don't experience it when you run a quarter mile outdoors. You

have a race plan you can stick to. Indoors you can't because of the

fact that you are hustling for the position. You are in a rhythm and

then you have to check back. It is exciting, but it is very tough. You

are calling the 400 women's heats. Margaret Adeoye has got through

just. It shows the level you need to be at. You need to hit the ground

running or you are going to be out. You must remember that you don't

have as many competitions so you are not into your race groove quickly

and because you come to a championships with a little bit of a

gap before you had a chance to warm up, that's why you can end up with

problems. We have got the men's 400 coming up. Hopes are going to be

high for the British runners. Nigel is coming to t championships

expecting that he should deliver and do really well. He is an interesting

indoor runner. He seems to be built and ready for it. If he runs well,

he is in the position right. You know what you have to do. The first

200 meters is crucial to set you up and then he is in with a good

chance. We are seeing what he managed do at Birmingham. He had a

different kind of game face on that day. It seems like he is maturing.

Do you see that in him? I think last year he developed a lot on the

Diamond League circuit. And once he came into indoors and started to

beat people when it really mattered has got to fill him with confidence

here. All right, let's get out to the action. Steve Cram is calling

the first of the 400 heats. Thanks. That man is Lalonde Gordon.

The first two will go through and the two fastest only, not four

fastest, only two fastest will go through to the semifinals. Again,

everything the guys have been talking about, crucial here and in

terms of first lap decisions. The reason there are only two fastest

loses is because the men have five heats and the women only had four.

So Lalonde Gordon the bronze medallist from the Olympic Games.

His team-mate has chosen not to come to the World Indoor Championships.

Gordan a tad behind him in terms of times and ran a good 300 in New York

before coming here, 32.4. He was a little disappointed. He went out

really hard in that race and faded a little.

He is the man to beat. We have Edino Steele of Jamaica and Gordon and

Marek Niit of Estonia. The Olympic bronze medallist is a lovely strong

looking runner. He looks very much in control. It is fairly easy. So

Gordon from Trinidad Tobago in the front. Edino Steele trying to go

wide. Edino Steele has to try to fight his way past the Estonian. Who

is going to get the second spot? Gordon stretches ahead. Edino Steele

has done enough to get it. Pretty impressive. He looked in control.

Got to the front and got himself out of trouble and did what he had to do

on the second lap. That's what we want to see all the time. The main

people up for the medals taking control early on. Give themselves

that free air so they can tried out and enjoy the run. It is early in

the morning, but they will go out there and do what's necessary to

qualify. You know what's difficult is when you are battling and that

final turn for the last place and when athletes are tired around you

and you have got to keep focussed and work at it all the time and that

can be difficult. But most important thing, they have qualified two

athletes into the semifinal and they will be happy and that's a quick

time to start off with. They have to come back for the semifinals and

that's going to be crucial. 12 men will go through. You want to get

through the morning heats if you have got a little bit of spare ka

capacity, you want to make sure you use it. The men's shot pot.

German Lauro of Argentina. That's five centimetres of short of

the qualifying distance and that could be just about right! A little

bit shorter and a little bit off balance and nearly throws himself

out of the circle, but nevertheless. So what's he got? 20.73. It is three

centimetres further than is required. So he makes it through to

the final. The result of the first heat, Gordon winning in 46.07 and

Steele doing well. Marek Niit, I suppose an outside chance. Don't

forget, there is only two fastest loser spots.

It is filling up in the arena and the Poles will be hoping that not

only on the track, but in the field that they can have something to

shout about. The arena holds 11,500. This track is built on a platform

and I think that they can actually get 15,000 here with some standing

for pop concerts etcetera. It is a nice arena though.

Dusanova in the high jump. She is an athlete that has not cleared this.

She has really got to attack it. That is the third and final attempt,

didn't really take off at all and flew flat across the take-off.

Three failures at 1.88 means she is eliminated.

There is the draw for the next round of the 400 metres. Nika Kartavtsevi.

Rafal Omelko, Jarrin Solomon, David Verburg and Gustavo Cuesta all. --

Gustavo Cuesta . Kartavtsevi, just a youngster, he

has an adult best of 37.19, so he will find this tough. Rafal Omelko,

quite an experienced athlete. Jarrin Solomon, Olympic relay

bronze-medallist for Trinidad and Tobago. David Verburg, part of the

US relay team which won the 2013 World Championships. And Gustavo

Cuesta, Boston Hemery college. He is from the Dominican Republic. So,

here we go. Rafal Omelko. Finished fourth at the

world student games in 2013. He got the really -- he has the relay

medallist outside him in the shape of Jarrin Solomon. And David Verburg

of the USA doubts that -- just outside of him.

So, Rafal Omelko looking a bit dry around the mouth.

That this Kartavtsevi -- that is Kartavtsevi.

Back to Rafal Omelko now. He has an outdoor personal best of 45.69. He

has a 400 metres hurdles time of 51.09, so not so good when you put

some sticks in the way. Certainly a very solid 400 metres runner.

Well, he has got off very quickly, that is why. Solomon outside him

trying to go off as quick but can't quite manage it at the moment. David

Verburg has gone off quickly, as well. Coming across just on his

shoulder. Omelko and David Verburg, followed by Solomon and David --

Gustavo Cuesta. It is these four. These three that have gone away.

And, pressing, is David Verburg and, just, Omelko. 46.62. That was good,

Colin. It was an interesting race all the way through from the gunfire

-- to the tape. The Polish runner needed to start

well from the outside and he is a big man to try and get around. Both

of the American athletes really struggled to see the route past him.

He ran a very wise race and I think that even he is surprised he managed

to hold onto that second place. He has worked his way through to the

semifinal, very good run. But it is very important, if you can get to

that Bell early and dominate the race you can dictate literally the

whole race, if you are strong enough.

Well, David Verburg just finished ahead of the other two, it will be a

photograph. 46.62 is given. Tomasz Majewski now. Is this any further?

He is getting closer. He reaches out at the front of the

circle, that is important. 20.60, that is ten centimetres light

of the qualifying line, but not bad. Well, next up in the men's 400

metres, Nigel Lavigne going in heat three. He had a little chat with

Phil yesterday. You haven't done anything until you have medals

around your neck, really, so the main goal was to come to the

Championships and medal. Hopefully this time it is going to

be on. Ranking is anything you can perform on a day, to me, so we will

see who brings their area -- 18 to this Championships.

Taking your mind off the races is a good thing for me personally, but I

like people behind you shouting things at you, its spurs you want to

go quicker. You have had some great results indoors with the relay in

the last couple of events and you have another chance with a really

good team, and some of your training partners are part of that squad as

well. How much are you looking forward to

that? It is going to be a great one. Last time we didn't even win, we

came second, so we are going to try and upgrade that into a gold this

time. We won the Europeans last year and now we need to win the worlds.

Well, it is never going to be easy through the heats, you have to keep

your wits about you. And Nigel Levine knows about it. He has a good

lane draw here, let's look at the result from the second heat, ID that

up. David Verburg a little slower,

Solomon just missing out, 46.86 at the moment.

Again, not too quick, and certainly with the likes of Richard Buck in

heat four, he may have to keep an eye on that. One of the crowd

favourites, Blanka Vlasic. Is she going to make this easy.

That was Blanka Vlasic at her very best.

Looks very comfortable, 1.9 to looked easy. -- 1.92.

After tidying up the result for the second heat here is the line-up for

the third one. Anderson Henriques on the outside. See although brotherly

see car from Western Samoa in lane two. The defending champion, Nery

Brenes from Costa Rica in fourth. Llewelyn Santos from the Dominican

Republic, he is a youngster but he seems as if he has been around for

ages, and Nigel Levine in lane six. -- Luguelin Santos.

Nigel has a hard time you, really. Ten three is the defending champion,

not quite showing that sort of form yet this year. His best performance

this season was in pride where he finished second. We will be implied

next year at the European indoor Championships. There is Santos. He

seems a bit older than 20 now, I have been commentating on him for a

good few years now. Medallist at the Olympic Games at the age of 18. He

is really getting into his season, run a new personal best at 45.89. He

knows all about Nigel Levine outside of him, winning the race in

Birmingham 45.71, quickest in this heat. All four men, you can probably

include Donald Sanford and that, the American in lane three, now running

for Israel. We have the defending champion, Olympic silver-medallist

and the British champion, Nigel Levine. First two and the fastest

loser spots at the minute, around 46.5 will get you through.

It is a long haul. -- hold. Away they go, ten three has good 200

metres speed and is showing that already.

Nigel Lavigne started well on the outside, Santos slower.

Donald Sanford has done well to get onto the two outside of him. These

four men have it between them. Anderson Henriques trying to get

through, Donald Sanford got clipped there! Nigel Levine has some work to

do to get around some tours. The -- Donald Sanford is going backwards.

The defending champion is looking good, Levine has some work to do to

get past Santos. Levine has to settle for third

place. The winning time, 46.55. That was a tough race in terms of

personalities, but it was not that fast. Brenes was able to really ease

his way across the line. I thought for a moment he may be easing back

too much. Nigel Levine worked hard. Did he work too hard round of that

bend to get past Santos and then had nothing left as Santos came in

strong on the last 20 metres? This is the difficulty on the last final

bend, Steve. I mentioned it before, you hit that final turn and it is

like a wall, it saps energy from your legs.

When you have a real battle with a couple of metres to the finishing

line you can understand why the athletes are grimacing. But Santos

took the race very comfortably, he looked very good, I was impressed

with his finish. We are all surprised with the defending

champion coming back with this form. Nigel is just eased out but I am

pretty sure that may be one of the fastest times. It will be a nervous

wait because he is now the second fastest loser and only two fastest

losers will go through. Years slower than Marek Niit in the

first heat. We still have two races to come. -- he is slower.

Emma Green Tregaro now. Just about six foot three, and that is tidy,

very tidy indeed. No more energy wasted there than was

necessary. Kamila Licwinko. 1.92, the same

height. That is good. She seems to be delighted every time she goes

clear. Just the slightest touch there. The

next height will be the qualifying height, that is for sure.

I can see Kaiser Bergquist sitting in the crowd there, watching that

high jumper. There is the result of the third heat, Santos, 46.54,

Brenes, 46.62 and Nigel Levine with 46.64 at the moment the fastest

loser but it will be a nervous wait. You can see Kizer second row back.

There is one of the men hoping to make it three World Championships,

one of the men, nobody will have done that. We have got the women's

3,000 heats later this morning and the 800 heats as well and 1500 so

lots of middle distance action after the 400 meters. The next is the

men's 400. Richard Buck is there in lane five. He is surrounded by

Richard Buck is surrounded by class. There is Tabarie Henry. He was

fourth in the World Championships indoors and out. 2012 was indoors

and 2009 was ourdoors. -- ourdoors. -- ourdoors.

We have got Richard Buck in lane five. The City of York athlete,

European indoor bronze medallist three years ago. Just second from

the, I was going to say second from the top of your picture but they

just changed since then. So here we go. Henry, Peters, Gauntlett, Buck

and Clemons. Well, Richard Buck got away to a

good start. You can expect him to be challenging at the half-way stage.

Tabarie Henry, Kyle Clemons rather just struggling a little bit at the

moment. He is getting into a bit of a clash there with Akheem Gauntlett.

Here comes Kyle Clemons. He is storming past Richard Buck. Richard

Buck is having a torrid time. Tabarie Henry is coming. It looks as

though Richard Buck is out of it. So a win there for Kyle Clemons. It was

a very good run by the American, but Richard Buck faded badly, didn't he?

It was the same for Richard because he looked quite good going through

the bell. He looked comfortable going through the bell as well, but

just with the film 150 meters to go, he got clipped from behind and it

sapped all his strength and he vanished off the scene unfortunately

to are him. But these 400 meters, early in the morning you have to

race early. Sometimes in your mind, you are not quite focussed. You are

looking around exactly who is in the race and you are trying to think how

you can balance up your performance and save some energy if you get

through, you know what, you have got to commit. Early on, you have got to

commit and take it from there. Kyle Clemons confirmed 46.42 as the

winner of that heat. Still one more heat to go, remember.

Well, the third and final attempt which is unusual for David Storl of

Germany. He really hits it hard and it sails

over the qualifying line. It was by and far and away the best throw we

have seen this morning. Oh my goodness!

He doesn't chase out the front of the circle. He absolutely blitzes

it. That was excellent. So 21.24 is the best throw that we have seen by

miles. 21 meters plus is a rarity these days.

You were in a tough heat and you have to wait now to see if you can

make it through? Yes, it was quite tough. I was in lane two and I tried

to adapt to the race and I finished third so I just is to kick back and

relax and see if I make it through to the next round. How did you feel

at the start and coming in this morning, where the nerves kicking

in? Are were you feeling calm? How was it? I was nervous going into the

race. Tried to stay calm and relaxed, but the nerves got the

better of me today. If you didn't make it through, how big a

disappointment would it be for you? A very big one. A very big one. Just

wait and see. Well, you are in there for now at least. We hope that you

can make it through as the fastest loser? Hopefully I'll go through.

Thanks for talking to us, Nigel. Thanks.

The good news for Nigel is the results have come through for the

fourth heat and the third placed athlete was 100th slower than Nigel.

So Nigel is still in the qualifying position, Richard Buck, you can see

there, the full list of the times. So Buck is out. But Nigel is still

in, but we have one more race to go and there are certainly four men who

are capable of running quicker. He will be hoping this final race is

not too fast. It is building up quite nicely here

in terms of a crowd. The athletes are already out there. Chris Brown

is right on the outside, a man who from the Bahamas. There is a full

line-up. Brown is on the outside and Pavel Maslak will be one of the

favourites here to do well and Nick Ekelund-Arenander from Denmark.

Chris Brown had a troubled time. It almost seems as if his career wh a

troubled -- had a troubled time. He is on the outside. Inside him, Pavel

Maslak who ran a scintillating 500 meters in Prague. There is no

argument about his strength and you can see a new personal best indoors

this year of 45.66. Wears the arm sleeves, does that sound right,

Colin, arm sleeves? Chris Brown, Chris should have been in

Birmingham, but got stuck in the States with the bad weather in

Atlanta and had a bit of a fall and required stitches in his face, but

you can see, I think, he is looking lovely now. Hopefully he is well

recovered from that, but Chris Brown, when he is on form, a tough

competitor indoors and outdoors. A former world indoor champion in

2010. This man here, Pavel Maslak European champion indoors and

outdoors. You expect those two to fill the top two spots and we are

looking for the third place. Will the third placed athlete be Nick

Ekelund-Arenander? He ran 36.41. If he runs well here.

The final heat of the men's 400. Chris Brown on the outside started

quickly. You can see Mark Ujakpor trying to get up here as well for

Spain. Is it too quick and Nick Ekelund-Arenander and they are in a

line here and it is the two European athletes with Brown cutting across

that are right in there, three European athletes. Pavel Maslak

being caught out for me. He should have been closer to the front. Nick

Ekelund-Arenander really attacked this through the first 20 Does he

have enough to hold off Brawn? The request he is Nick Ekelund-Arenander

going to hold on for the third spot? Pavel Maslak eased his way through.

It is pretty quick. I think that Nick Ekelund-Arenander will be close

to Nigel Levine 'S. Pavel Maslak just eased his way. Pavel Maslak

again he is a strong European athlete. Great over the 400 meters

outdoors. He had a sensational, so far indoor season. As you said Steve

the 500 meters he did in Prague was very, very impressive indeed. So

these two, I would say, you have got to favour them in the final to be up

there contending for the medals. They are both experienced and very

confident and they enjoy running indoors so it will be a good battle

later on. Yes, it will be a good battle later on. Unfortunately, I

can't tell you it won't be a battle which will contain either of the

British athletes, Richard Buck went out, but we will get the results

shortly, but for Nigel Levine, his fastest losers spot has gone to Nick

Ekelund-Arenander who has run a shade quicker. We are just waiting

for the results to be confirmed. We should get them in a second. The

semifinals will be tough as Colin was talking about how important the

draw is. There is only two semifinals, six in each and you

don't really want to be on the inside lanes when you have got high

calibre athletes out there. Tomas Stanek now in the shot pot. He

seemed to stay inside the circle. Here is the man that everyone has

come to see. He looks as though he is through to the final already. He

is in fourth place. So he will be after something better

here. He needs to get down and hit it. Oh,

it is a foul. So no further qualification effort from Majewski.

So we are just waiting for confirmation of the men's 400 meters

results. I am not aware of any protests or anything. We have not

had anything this morning. It is something that can happen. Lane

violations etcetera. Those two are going to be amongst the favourites.

The defending champion is through. There is the result:

Most importantly, Nick Ekelund-Arenander in third place.

That's quicker than Nigel Levine and unfortunately, it will be the Danish

athlete who will go through to the semifinals along with Marek Niit.

Santos is in there. Plenty of big names. No Nigel Levine or no Richard

Buck and we can hear from him now. Obvious disappointment when you

don't deliver what you wanted to, but talk to us about the difference

in the track. Well, Birmingham has these nice, I

curve is through the bank that helps you run round France and here there

are quite shallow. -- run round fast. It is hard to get

the speed we need and I think I overcooked it a little bit there for

me. Obviously I am disappointed with the end result there, but my race

strategy coming in was to take command of this race early. That

happened to be harder than I expected, although I expected it to

be hard. It was quite physical going into that curve and the physicality

did not really stop. It throws you of your rhythm little bit and I like

free track to run in with no interruptions. For me, indoor

running is go at it hard and then control that deceleration that is

going to happen. If I don't get a nice, easy track to run into it is

hard. But, you know, it still wasn't that bad from the point of view of

getting to the front of a world-class field, so I am not

overly disappointed, but obviously, you know, I came here off that great

run in Birmingham and expected to be competing for the finals, so as far

as that goes I really do feel like I have let myself down a little bit.

We appreciate you talking to us, thank you very much.

Yes, disappointment for Richard Buck, he said it himself that he did

not feel as if he ran as well as he would really have liked to. That has

implications for our 4x4 nodded metres squad and not good news is

that none of our individual athletes have made it through, although

Margaret Adeoye has, but there has not been good signs for our 4x4

nodded metres squad. -- 4x400. Hopefully we will still be able to

produce in those two medals we still have our eyes on.

Still a busy morning in the field with the women's high jump

qualifications, men's shot but, as well. Plenty for the crowd to get

their into, real aficionados this morning. -- to get their teeth into.

1.95 was her first attempt at that height. Two more attempts to go.

Absolutely superb up until 1.92. Now, one of the brightest new stars

in the athletics world, gains a beta barber who recently said three world

records in the space of just 15 days. -- Genzebe Dibaba.

A truly special athlete, Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia!

It is all about Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia. 16 laps between her and

athletics history. Genzebe Dibaba breaks the world first for two

miles! Three world records in little over two weeks!

Well, I am delighted to say that Paula Radcliffe has joined me here

in the presentation position. We can tell us the at home some good news

on Nigel Levine we believe he is in the semifinals. He has made it

through, that is very good news. It is also good news that someone of

the stature of Genzebe Dibaba is here. She has chosen the 3000m, not

to double up on the 1500 metres. Yes, as I understand it she wanted

at one stage two double up on the 1500 and the 3000, looking at it I

don't think it'd is that tight, she would have been capable of doing

that. The 3000m is this evening and the

1500 metres is tomorrow. It is possible she could have doubled up

on those two comfortably but she has chosen to just come and race today.

You showing outstanding form so far this season. She had an amazing 8.16

that only the Chinese have ever run quicker than. Then to come back less

than weekly to rant get a record in the two males, two, she is in a

class of Rome. When you are in a class of your own so far ahead of

the field, how do you approach athlete like this?

I think she will be looking for a stretcher, really. Sometimes it can

feel almost harder when you were running at a slower pace than you

are used to racing at. I would not be surprised to see her stretch it a

little bit but equally she is very comfortable having run a 53 second

400 metres time, she is capable of sitting at the back and doing it all

in the last couple of Matt -- laps. How exciting prospect is she?

She has delivered already indoors, we don't know what she is going to

be like outside but, it is imagining -- but it is exciting to consider

what she can achieve. I think she has an amazing indoor campaign

already so far to build on outdoors and it will be interesting to see

what she does transferring to the bigger track out cause.

It is great when an athlete like this comes along and sets the world

alight, that is what we like to get excited about as athletics fans. You

have done it yourself and she will bring a great deal to the sport if

he can continue. I think she is, she is building on a tradition so many

of the great Ethiopian runners have had so far.

Her sisters, as well, it will be interesting to see what Tirunesh

Dibaba does in the London Marathon. The first race is coming above the

women's 3000m heats and Genzebe Dibaba is in that very race.

Yes, to heats for the women's 3000, can I just apologise to Nigel Levine

because that 400 metres ended up with him qualifying by two

hundredths of a second. It was my own note-taking, that will teach me

not to look at the computer. Use into the semifinal, by the skin of

his teeth tonight, which is really good news. We will let you know the

draw for that, but he will certainly be in one of the inside lanes. Nigel

Levine is through to that 400 metres semifinal tonight. As Paula

Radcliffe was saying, an intriguing 3000m heats here to see what the

likes of Genzebe Dibaba will do. Shannon Rowbury is in her heat. The

American, we may talk about the American trials in the second heat.

There is a lot to talk about! Yes, we will talk about that in the

second heat. The first four on the fourth fastest

loser to go through to the final, and Dibaba should have a fairly

comfortable race here. We have the full line up in a moment. There is

only eight in the first and seven in the second. I was good to ask Paula

Radcliffe as to whether or not it was worth having heats here. There

are only 15 athletes who have entered and given it is 3000m I

think they could have perhaps dispensed with this first round.

Maybe you would think they heats are a good idea. The first four and four

fastest losers. We saw Irene Jelagat in there, also Shannon Rowbury, Alia

Saeed Mohammed of the United Arab Emirates now. Natalya Aristarkhova,

who is a good cheese. Margarita Mike Nanny from Italy who has had a good

indoor season and Lucy Van Dalen from New Zealand. The issue, really,

if you are only eliminating three athletes from these two races, we

could have a scenario, if this race is particularly slow, the second one

they just have the runaround at a reasonable pace and all seven

athletes in the second race could qualify very comfortably. I guess

that the onus is on the athletes in this race to decide whether or not

they want to run that risk. If you're not going to finish in the

top four, just make it in a reasonable pace. This young lady

here, three world records, the two-mile world best. It is that

eight minutes 16 that was up phenomenal performance. What do you

do to try and beat this young lady? Let's start with that, Paula, heats

or not? At this stage I would have said go

straight to the final, it does not make sense just to eliminate three

people. It kind of gives the girls a little bit of motivation to make it

an honest race in the final, rather than making it tactical.

Shannon Rowbury, closest to the camera. Former world medallist at

1500 metres back in there alone. An experienced competitor. -- back in

Berlin. I think she may get through in the top four anyway, but she may

fancy taking it out a little bit after we have seen two or three laps

click off. Nobody wants to fall do anything

silly here. Margarita Mike Nanny from Italy, she has done reasonably

well this year and has been rewarded with an indoor personal best at this

distance better than her outdoor best, which stands around nine

minutes this year. Irene Jelagat on the inside and Dibaba happy to sit

behind Shannon Rowbury. Already some tripping and stumbling, Natalya

Aristarkhova who was stumbling there, just because they are running

so slowly. I doubt they are expecting Dibaba to

take it up from the start but certainly they are all very aware

she is in their heat. They are looking around to see where she is

all the time rather than concentrating on their own race.

Irene Jelagat decides to do exactly that and make it a bit of a decent

pace, that gives them the chance of having some fastest losers qualify

from this race, which if they just jog around that will not happen. The

incentive is there and the knowledge is there for the second heat of the

run that much faster in the second qualifying.

It is not super slow, I have seen in races where they have gone slower

than this but not that quick -- quit. -- not that quick. I think

Irene Jelagat is deciding it is wise to keep it going at a reasonable

pace and if you want to pick it up in the last 800 metres or so that

will happen. At least then there will be a target for the second

race. Irene Jelagat should be good enough. The thing about this field,

there are two or three 1500 metres specialists, if you like. Sifan

Hassan at the back, we saw her finish second to Laura Muir in

Birmingham at the 1500 metres, she will not mind this pace. It is

interesting, at world indoors you get this real mix. We don't run

3000m out of doors any more, so you get the 1500 metres trying to decide

whether to run the longer event and check out their endurance is. It is

a real choice for the 1500 metres athletes at this time of year.

Certainly, when we used to have the 3000m as the major event in the

championships outdoors, there was a lot more switching and doubling at

championships between the 1500 metres and 3000.

It is said only possible in the 5000 metres, but as 1500 metres

specialist will find it easier to raise over 3000. A lot of the times

in their training they will be working on endurance and want to

sharpen up over the summer. It works to come out and raise over 3000m at

chest how the work is going in preparation for the summer and be

able to run a championships over that distance at the same time.

The 2007 through the first thousand metres, still a fairly gentle pace.

-- 3.07. I think if you go back to when you are starting your career,

the indoors was just building in terms of adoption, there were not so

many races you could run. There were -- there are a lot more races in the

traditional endurance route, crossed country racing in the summer, which

not many athletes take. Very few of them going down that path, and they

do have this option of racing indoors. It is definitely growing.

When I started, there were not that many indoor races, conditions were

not great, I think you could still smoke inside the arena which did not

make it great for racing. The world cross-country series leading into

that was at a much higher level than it is that now, which meant the

incentive was there and you saw 1500 metres runners getting out on the

cross and using it as a strength and endurance option overwinter more

than now, partly because indoors has picked up so much big also because

the cross-country scene has dropped off a little bit. -- but also. I

think there has been a step backwards in that respect in terms

of encouraging people to do it. It is funny, I always felt when he

introduced the short race in the world cross-country that the idea

was to tempt the 1500 metres runners. All that happened was that

the really good endurance athletes who thought I may not win a medal in

the long race, I will pop down to the Forte. That became not an option

for the track athletes. -- for the 4k.

She had a pretty good year last year, she won the European team

Championships and ran reasonably swiftly over the steeplechase. This

indoor 3000 brings everyone together, cross-country, we are

going to see the what ILO in the next race. -- Hiwot Ayalew.

It is Ally aside Mohammed leading, Margarita Mike Nanny. She was the

leader and he is moving up on the outside again. Although Alia Saeed

Mohammed moved up to the front, if anything they are slowing down a

little, because you can tell they are starting to bunch up. --

Margarita Mike Nanny. Maybe some getting nervous. Yes, they are

starting to get a little jumpy, they may feel they have a fast finish.

But at this level they will not be that sure of some of the others

around them and how fast they are going to finish. They may start to

get a bit nervous and when you see Dibaba come through that may start

to calm some of them down a little bit, that she is taking control.

Really they want to be taking control of the brace themselves.

Sifan Hassan has not moved from the back, sometimes a little bit too

much of a gap has opened up there, but she seems confident she is going

to leave it all until the very last moment. Shannon Rowbury is starting

to move around a little bit there on the outside. She is getting herself

into position. We will talk about the American trials later but that

was a very slow pace early on and she finished quick enough to make

the team in the closing stages but they be not as far as that she would

have liked. She was making sure, now she is slipping right back.

A little bit of panic creeping in there. Shannon Rowbury was getting

the bows out, suddenly Sifan Hassan has sprinted from the back to the

front. I always save your going to make a move, decide when you are

going to do it. Yes, you have to react when people do things, but no

one has put their foot down yet, we're into the closing stages now,

but they are all still in there. All have a chance, top four qualify,

four fastest loser spots available. Shannon Rowbury. Hassan has got some

work to do and she picks up down the back straight. There was daylight

starting to open up between the front five moving away and the two

dropping off at the back and Hassan was stuck behind that, but she has

woken up and got herself in a position now as they come around

with two laps to go to strike over the final 400 meters. The two

fastest it losers could come from this group as well. Well, Dibaba is

just stretching her legs a little bit down the back straight with 200

meters to go. Shannon Rowbury is just starting to panic a little bit,

but she has got good pace. Dibaba is looking up at the screen. The

Russian is miles back. Dibaba, Hassan, Margherita Magnani and only

four will qualify and Dibaba is looking comfortable. But who will

join her without having to want to worry about a fastest losers spot?

Dibaba, Hassan and Magnani and it will be the Kenyan who will lose out

here. 8.57 the winning time. The others just a second or two behind.

The second heat will know what they have to do and Irene Jelagat will

probably be happy to be fifth. I have been rotten at my maths this

morning with that 400 meters, but Irene Jelagat will be through. She

is certainly in there. It shows why she was right to move to the front

and to keep pushing on the pace a little bit. I thought she would be

more comfortable than that and closing faster over the last couple

of laps. Shannon Rowbury started to panic a little bit, but really she

had it all covered. Shannon is smart and she would have worked out that

the first five were going to go through on times. It would have been

more relaxed once she moved Alia Saeed Mohammed down the back

straight. Dibaba looked to be controlling that and she could have

come back and run 1500 meters tonight and doubled up if that's

what she really wanted to do. The final kilometre 2.47 and the

last 1500, but she wasn't pushed at all. When you have run 3.55, 4.18 is

a bit of a dawdle. Liz ma McCall scarks gan competed her. One lap to

go and Mc Colgan puts on the pressure. And has McColgan got

anything left? I don't think she has. She has judged it well.

McColgan took her chances and went away. McColgan wins the silver. The

world record has gone. A tremendous world record there and a tremendous

performance from Liz McColgan. Eilish McColgan has not been feeling

well. She picked up a little bit of an illness and wasn't able to do the

final training coming in here. It is all about building into the

Commonwealths in the summer and the Europeans and making sure she stays

healthy and capitalises on the good work she has done this year. It is a

big year for Scottish athletes. They don't want to miss out? That's

right. We don't have a representative here. The selectors

could have gone ahead and picked Steph and Kate to back them up and

maybe they could have had the opportunity to come here and we have

seen fou how few girls there are here today. Kate's story is a hard

luck story and the confusion. Should she have been here, do you think?

The problem is the clause in the selection policy which says they

have to submit in writing why they didn't compete in the trials. The

message it sends, yous want to reward for someone making a break in

New York. As for the first heat of the women's 3,000 meters, we saw

Dibaba. She is so impressive and so effortless? All of the Dibaba

sisters look effortless when they run and she does. When you come in

with an 18.16 and a 3.55, you will be effortless at that pace. It is

just the way she controls the field and everybody is looking to see what

she is doing and she can run it anyway she wants. What about the

finals? Having said already that 18.16 had she run an 18. 20 she

could have come here and improved on that, but an 18.16 is phenomenal and

to go and run faster on that is a hard ask to put on her. I think she

is looking for the win. It will be interesting to see how close to the

18.16 she will go. I don't think she will go faster. The defending

champion, Hellen Onsando Obiri runs for Kenya. She had the rest of the

field chasing the minor medals? Probably, in all honesty. She has

come out this week and said she is aiming to defend her title and she

is in great shape. I think she has to come in with that mindset, but

the form Hellen Onsando Obiri she has shown so far, they are running

for second. You touched on there about no British competitors here.

What's your take bringing youngsters to this kind of environment and give

them the experience on a smaller global stage if you like, if that's

possible? Well, I think that any championship is a learning

experience and there should be a natural progression. When they

qualify, we should send them. Poland is not a long way. You are not

sending them to the other side of the world. They are coming to

Poland. They are coming to a nice championships where they can go

through different procedures. Just being in the championship

environment and learning from that. Learn from heats and situations and

how to react. How to react under pressure and lots of things and that

opportunity should be given to the young athletes. Paula, thank you

very much for your insight. We saw the insight there of the first heat.

And now we look forward to the second with Steve cram.

-- Steve Cram. Before we pick up on the first heat,

the result of it. Some news on Richard Buck. We heard from him

saying how disappointed he was with his run. He was actually

disqualified. We think for lane violation. Richard Buck was

disqualified in the men's 400. Nigel Levine is through to the semifinals

tonight. The second race of this first round of the women's 3,000

meters. Pretty much, if they want to, all seven could go through here,

although a couple might have to run fairly close. Just going through

some of the names, Hellen Onsando Obiri, the world defending champion,

and Maryam Yusuf Jamal a former medal in 2008 and 2006. Never won

this title though indoors and Renata Plis will be giving the home crowd

something to cheer about. Well-known on the world stage at 1500 meters.

Never really produced any sort of performances to get among medals at

major championships, but she is a good runner and run a personal best

for this distance indoors this year. It has been a manic morning.

Including here in the commentary box! Irene Jelagat, I can tell you,

obviously. So five athletes all through. I keep wanting to call it

the semifinal, I mean the first heat. We will have 12 in the final.

It is just a case of if they know they have got to run about nine

minutes and they are capable of that. The slowest athlete is

actually the leader, that's Svitlana Shmidt. Again, she is somebody if

she wants to, can take this out and just to mention actually she is

running for Ukraine. We haven't really mentioned it so far with all

the things that are going on, there was some doubt as to whether the

Ukrainian athletes would be here to compete, but there was a statement

given out from their team management talking about how they are delighted

that their athletes are here and they have got people from all over

Ukraine and Russia and Ukrainian speaking athletes and hoping they

will compete well their country and we all say hear, hear to that. So

Paula, let's do the American trials. Towards the back next to Jamal is

Gabrielle Grunewald. A very good athlete. Won the American

championships and then was disqualified for a little bit of an

altercation with another athlete. I think the first disqualification was

overturned - you are shaking your head. Sorry, I am not on air. Two

appeals were overturned to begin with and then she went and said am I

good, am I still US champion? Yes, you are. You can leave. Just as she

was leaving, she was told another appeal had gone in and she was

disqualified. I think that stood overnight and then on the Monday or

the Tuesday of that week it was overturned again and she was back in

because Jordan turned around and withdrew the initial appeal. It was

Jordan who had been impeded. Gabrielle ran into the back of her

and she did stumble. But it did look as if she was running into Shannon

Rowbury. It looked like two stumbles, but there was only contact

made once. Once Jordan made that, Gabrielle was on the team. There was

accusations flying around by Jordan's coach and they were denying

that they had got involved in the appeal process, it was the two

following days. It was the response of the American athletics fraternity

both particularly through social media and other means that created

this kind of ground swell of opinion which USA track and field had to

respond to which is the odd thing. Either an appeal stands because a

jury has sat and made a decision to overturn your decision and I think

it was the right decision, she should be here, and it is right, she

won the race very, very comfortably. It is a shame for Jordan that she

had to give up her place in order to allow that process to happen. She

gave the USA track and field an easy way out. No, they don't cover

themselves in glory, the federation? No, there wasn't new evidence

submitted when she was disqualified for the third time. But I think what

was overlooked in the saga is that she ran a very past last lap there

that would put her on a par of Dibaba. It was an impressive speed,

and Jordan knew she was beaten by a better runner and a runner who was

able to close better and maybe had more potential to come and perform

here and the it actual clash did not really affect the result of the

race. Well, she is here and in a comfortable position, just moving

out. She did not qualify for the World

Championships last year but ran personal bests all over the place.

She ran pretty well at the Anniversary Games awareness

distance. That was Maryam Yusuf Jamal that time coming across

Gabrielle Grunewald. This is a good field, you have Obiri, the defending

champion, he what I Luke good cross-country -- he what ILO --

Hiwot Ayalew. She is a good cross-country exponent. Renata Plis

doing her best to keep this pace going. They went through much

quicker than the first race and I think that pace has carried on year.

-- here. The only one who is struggling is the Ukrainian athlete,

Svitlana Schmidt. They don't need to pick up the pace,

they just need to keep running steadily and they should be OK. Yes,

I think they have realised that. Renata Plis is very comfortable at

the front of the race. She has a very long, loping, almost

prancing style. She also does a pheromone of pacemaking, I think she

was the pacemaker in the two miles world best in Birmingham and did a

good job, people were doubting whether she could keep the pace

going for as long as she could. You can just see Gabrielle Grunewald

move around as Hellen Obiri moved to the front. She shows she is capable

of covering these moves. At this stage they don't really need to, I

think they are all safe. 6.6 through two kilometres, they

have to keep it around the nine millimetres -- around this mark.

Renata Plis is coming under a lot of pressure, and for my money Bill

Grunwald looks pretty terrible at the moment. Whether or not all of

the ceremony games over selection -- Gabrielle Grunewald looks pretty

terrible at the moment and whether or not all of the shenanigans over

the selection is over. There is a big gap now to the

American and Polish athletes. These four racing, almost, now, even

though they don't need to because they are clearly away. Plis has

rallied debate, but you are right, Grunewald is running very slowly.

Her personal best is only around 8.53, she will struggle to get under

nine minutes if she does not keep working hard and have an honest

paste from the start. -- pace. Now she studies to sniff out the final

400 metres where she can unleash that kick but she has to keep in

contact little bit more up until that point, with these four who are

clearly away. Obiri was comfortable and leading them now and hopefully

they have looked around and realise there does not have to be a big

burn-out in the last two laps. I think all six of these will go

through because the top six in the previous heat were around nine

minutes. The seventh placed athlete was main

.09, Natalya Aristarkhova. Unless one of those were to follow here,

they will go through. -- 9.09. You have a feeling that there is a lot

of good athletes who will be running for second place when we get around

to the final. But they will not give it away easily. Grunewald has

certainly picked up, Plis is going better, and those two should be

comfortable in the qualifying position although they are 20 metres

behind this four. A little bit of a sprint, a little bit of anything you

can do and I can do better. Just testing each other, absolutely no

need for this at all. It does not matter in the 3000m where you come

in your seats, just get through. Anywhere, Obiri gets through in

second place behind Maryam Yusuf Jamal. The American will be happy

that she has made it through. If she had been watching the clock she

would have known she could have taken it a little bit easier over

the last 200 metres. No drama, all of the big names through as

expected. Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, Svitlana Schmidt, she

will not be quick enough to go through as fastest loser.

Just stepping ahead of that marker, and goes clear. That is better. That

is much, much better. 1.95, only one failure throughout

the competition at 1.92. Justyna Kasprzycka now, she has already had

two failures. Will she get this one at the second attempt, 1.95?

Yes. Just touched it, but certainly not enough to drag it off the pegs.

Yes. That was by far and away her best jumper. That was very good

indeed. Just struck it right. A much better take off, not exactly

great flight across the bar, but nevertheless that was excellent.

1.95, second attempt. I am delighted to say, Colin, Denise

and I have been joined by the one and only Eilidh Child, the British

team captain this weekend. You must be delighted to have that honour. It

was a real shock, actually, to be asked, but I am completely honoured.

It is a privilege to be asked to be captain and it is such a nice squad.

With the captaincy comes the speeches were made before the event,

how did that go? The dreaded speech!

It went quite well, it was light-hearted but it focused on the

job we all have to do, not bid to sue much pressure on the younger

ones, as well. Everyone knows what we have to do, just to keep them

motivated. -- not put too much pressure. Was there an overriding

theme? Yes, really just to leave it all on

the track. What ever your goal is, as long as

you can step off the track knowing you have left all on there then we

should have a successful team. It is a youthful team, there are a few

youngsters that, but that is a great thing for British athletics going

forward. Yes, it is really encouraging and

the youngsters are stepping up their game.

Hopefully it will carry on into the outdoor season, as well. One of

those youngsters who has already made a mark is Katarina

Johnson-Thompson. Unfortunately, she did not make the

pentathlon this week but she will be competing in the long jump. When I

spoke to her yesterday she put the perspective on missing out on the

pentathlon on what it meant to her. You are in the World Championships

in the long jump, not the pentathlon, how do you feel about

that whole process? Obviously in the trials everyone

could tell I was in great shape to do the pentathlon and I had one set

gather the trials, which was meant to mean a qualifying for the worlds

and the pen pal font. That was three weeks ago and after the trials it

was such a huge performance both days. Unfortunately I came down with

the flu and I could not compete and try and qualify in the pentathlon.

Luckily enough, the trials did happen to me and I will be gutted

watching the girls compete in the pentathlon, because I wanted to be

in the mix and I thought I could have done a good pentathlon. With

the two jumps I know I am in the shape and in good form but it is

something I have to get over. I have a new challenge now and I have to

put that to the back of my mind and hopefully I can excel in the long

jump again. Well, the illness got in the way of Katarina Johnson-Thompson

performing nude in the pentathlon, but it is great to see are

performing well at long jump and high jump and she can come --

compete individually. It is a consolation but as you

heard, she is gutted. If you look at the line-up this

year, she would have been right in there, fighting for those medals.

Yes, she will go and long jump and do her best, with 6.75 she could

really challenge if she is ready for it, but I think she will watch this

competition and it will be hard, she will probably scream at every point,

I could have done that! But she has to predict to the back of her mind.

Colin, how much has she impressed you with her performances? I was

very impressed, certainly with the high jump.

A British record for a heptathlete was outstanding. We know what

Jessica Ennis-Hill is done in the path at -- in the past and how she

progressed so nicely, but what is interesting, what is the spirit like

now in the team next to her? Is she thinking, I am going to do it in the

long jump? She is a little bit, I sat and spoke with this morning and

she was axed skiing when heptathlon will start.

-- I spoke with this morning and she was asking when the heptathlon will

start, but she said she did not want to watch it, there is that

frustration there. Thank you, guys, time for more action, let's join the

commentary team. Yana Maksimava in good shape at the

moment. Breanne Tyson eaten -- Brianne

Theisen Eaton, when I saw her in 2013 at the World Championships, her

husband won gold. He is the decathlon world record holder.

Alina Fyodorova. A very strong Ukrainian.

Nadine Broersen, 10th at the World Championships last time. Three times

the Dutch high jump champion. So, the main threat, I think, is

going to come from Sharon Day-Monroe.

The eight best multi-eventers in the world going for break here.

They are getting away well. Ganna Melnichenko is going well. A

photograph for third. That was a brilliant run. Certainly has found

some speed. And that could be a new lifetime best. What's this? She is

about a meter behind at the first hurdle, but then came through

towards the end. Ganna Melnichenko is just about in the lead, but

coming through there, was Brianne Theisen Eaton. It is a shame we

haven't got Ganna Melnichenko to her right-hand side. Brianne Theisen

Eaton storming away from Karolina Tyminska. That was brilliant.

Well, 8.13 is a new lifetime best and that puts her in very good

shape, indeed. The event we have after is the men's

1500 meters. That's good. The expected distance

here for the triple jump is 14 meters 30 which is a very modest

distance. That looked less than satisfactory

there. 14.31 and she has qualified with the

economy of effort. Before we continue with our chat

with Denise, we can wrap up the women's high jump qualifying. Emma

Green made it through. It is good to see Blanka Vlasic through along with

Emma Green. There is no Jess Ennis this year

because Jess is pregnant. How good is it to have someone like Katrina?

It is great to carry it on and hopefully she will build on that

this year and she will be one of the favourites and hopefully she can

deliver. I know our statistician is excited about the prospect of the

heptathlon. We have seen not seen that combination since Mccluft?

Katrina knows she has to work on her throws and when she can get to the

standard of what she will expect and I think she will do, she will be

dangerous. She will be formidable and difficult to beat, but she has

got to keep going and progressing naturally which she is and she, I

just really believe that this year could be the start of something

really exciting for her. Ex-leapt. Cellent. The king of the

decathlon outdoors and the heptathlon indoors is an American by

the name of Ashton Ea. -- Ashton Ea. Ashton Ea has just about broke

every record in the Ashton Eaton now brings it now. The

American is streaking ahead of everyone else.

Well, just how good is Ashton Eaton? We can ask a few people alongside

me. Denise, he has won every gold medal there is to win. What keeps

you motivated when you are him and you are doing that? Well of, , this

year is different. He is trying hurdles this year which will be

interesting. What makes him such an incredible athlete is the way he

commands the running event. His speed is electrifying. He is head

and shoulders above the rest, but again, that level-headedness, that

taking every year as it comes with new challenges is what makes him

great and you know, we could see him challenge the world record here. His

own world record. We are about to see him in action, Ashton Eaton He

is a complete talent. He has taken the bull by the horns. I'm excited

to see him today. I'm even more excited to see him come out and try

the hurdles. Let's get the commentary from Paul.

We have seen the line-up. Ashton Eaton is by and far and away to the

left-hand side. Oleksiy Kasyanov has never really hit the big time.

Andrei Krauchanka former unionior champion -- junior champion and

believe it or not, he is a very good shot putter. Damian Warner from

Canada. In 2013 he got away to a cracking start in this 1600 hurdles.

1600 on the flat. Pascal Behrenbruch. Kai Kazmirek European

under 23 champion. The latest in a long line of German athletes.

Certainly the best in Germany. Thomas van der Plaetsen World

Student Games Champion in 2013. 2013 European Indoor champion, twice

fifth at the championships. This is really a top class field. And top

only by the very best, Ashton Eaton. He is the world record holder. He

holds every record that there is to hold. He has broken the decathlon

record. He has broken the heptathlon record as well.

So this will give you a very good idea. -- so this will give us a very

good idea as to how well Ashton Eaton is doing. We will get a very

good idea what sort of shape he is in from this.

Ashton Eaton gets away brilliantly along with Damian Warner. On the far

side he is flying. Damian Warner got off to a cracking start. Ashton

Eaton stayed with him all the way and extended his lead. Ashton Eaton

6.66. That's actually down as a new lifetime best. I think that equals

his lifetime best. So the computer can't distinguish between the

absolute best and those who are equalling it. Just cruising. He was

hoping that it would round itself down. So there we have it. 6.66

equals his lifetime best. That is confirmed. So we get some idea as to

how soon ps Dana. That wasn't a bad effort. Just over

14 meters.s that's just over 14. 20 I would think. 14. 10 in

What has she got at the second time of asking?

It certainly looked as if she had got a lot more distance on the jump.

Rather bailed out. Not a bad take off. 14. 20. That's the third

longest that we have seen so far this morning. Ashton Eaton along

with Damian Warner. Ashton Eaton ended up being a long, long way

ahead. Oleksiy Kasyanov is a little bit behind, but that tenth of a

second means around about 50 points difference. Ashton Eaton, Damian

Warner and Oleksiy Kasyanov the three main protagonists.

Well, plenty of kids in the audience, pretty young once, as

well. It is pretty full here at the end of the morning's session as we

move into the afternoon here. I can see sitting in the middle of that

group there, that is Barry Wells, long-time supporter of British

athletes, and there are lots of British athletics supporters year,

some staying in our hotel, incidentally. They are hoping for a

successful weekend. We can look at the qualifiers in the triple jump.

Yes, they are not very good. Only two athletes managed to get the

automatic qualifier of 14.20. Kimberly Williams, 14.35 and Olga

Saladukha, 14.31. The rest we will have to wait and see, but I suggest

they will go through as part of a top eight as the eight best jumpers

on display. That is a good look. I could carry

that off, I think. Well, we have had an interesting

morning so far, and there is plenty more athletics to come later in the

day, of course. Let's look at the evening timetable. Tiffany Porter is

an action in the women's 60 metres hurdles. We have Dwain Chambers

going in the men's 60 metres and Richard Kilty for Britain. That is a

wide-open event with the likes of Jimmy Vicaut and James Dasaolu not

running. Margaret is going for Britain later on and the first gold

is decided in the men's shot put. Colin, 60 metres men's race first of

all, it has suddenly become wide-open because there is no Jimmy

Vicaut and from our point of view, sadly, James Dasaolu is not here.

Good news for the likes of Dwain Chambers. Yes, and Richard Kilty,

who is against stepping up, hopefully he will make the most of

this opportunity. It is so sad for James, that

hamstring pull in Germany was soared devastating for him. As Michael was

so devastating. If he is in great shape, Dwain Chambers, then we could

see him maybe make a medal again. Yes, we saw how impressive he was in

Birmingham, James performed admirably well their committee would

have been a gold-medal contender, Colin.

I think you have summarised that well, Phil. He has all the

capability to take this title. You will be sitting at home devastated

when he sees someone else walk off with the title. When athletes are in

that beautiful purple patch you want to try and clean up as many

championships as possible. James, his dominating heat in Birmingham,

it was a sensational bit of sprinting. It is the best sprinting

I have seen from any of our sprinters ever come including

Linford Christie, etc. It was flawless. That is quite something

for you to see that, you have seen many greats through the years, not

saying you are old or anything! As for someone like Richard Kilty

getting an opportunity because James has unfortunately missed out, it

kind of ads to that growing group we have, really, behind the experienced

Dwain Chambers, we have some great genius, as well. Finally we have a

good mix of young sprinters. Yes, it is all about raising confidence and

making sure that when you get to these championships you do not waste

that opportunity. Richard has had a good indoor season

so he does deserve to be here and hopefully there will continue.

-- he will continue. We can look forward to that as well as Tiffany

Porter going in the women's 60 metres hurdles, of course. We are a

couple of weeks away from sport relief, so how are you going to get

involved? You have seen our ear dynamic

helmets, here are the shorts. Victoria loves them. -- a row

dynamic. Sport relief swimming? I know I am going to win. This

beauty will make you as fast as a frog... Fish... Type... Thing.

Win or lose, my friend, you have to train hard, that means going uphill.

It is not about training. You are supposed to do it for fun.

Running! Whether you rent -- swim, run or cycle, sport relief is all

about you. It is a big weekend of RBS Six

Nations, tomorrow you can see Ireland against Italy from 2pm

followed by Scotland against France from 4:40pm. Then the prospect of

England against Wales at Twickenham, coverage from 2:30pm.

Paula has moved back into the commentary box, conveniently it is

close by, Colin and Denise have gone for a break. We can talk 1500 metres

for men and a lot of people will be watching and see Lee Emanuel view

and not know much about him. They may have seen Chris O'Hare perform

well in Moscow. Can you shed some light on the kind of talent Lee

Emanuel is? Lee Emanuel is a fantastic indoor

talent. He is based in Albuquerque still, but he studied at the

University there and was coached over there. He won two indoor titles

in the collegiate system there, so he is used to racing indoors and

that different style. He raced very well in Germany on a personal best,

using very good shape this year. He really deserves his place there. It

is great to see Chris, as well, we have that depth in the 1500, which

is really good. It is nice that we have that many vying to come here

and they are pushing each other on. That is very healthy, Chris has set

the benchmark with what he did last year.

He was new to that seen in Moscow but took to it so well, made it to

the final, and his full attitude throughout the championships was so

impressive. His attitude in general is very

much, pygmy in that situation and see what I can do. He thrives on

that situation, the pressure, trying to progress as far as you can

through the rounds. It will be that situation again today and let's hope

both of them can do it. It will be tough. It will be great to see.

Let's sandbag to Steve Cram for the 1500.

-- let's hand back. Before we go through the athletes Lee Emanuel is

up against, little bit of news, the world number one, who we were

expecting to see in this race, is not competing. We are not sure why

yet. We will find out more about that for you over the weekend.

Anyway, he is not here, so it is an open race anyway. Lots of great

athletes with a chance of winning this 1500 metres. T3 heats this

morning will go through the first two and the fastest losers will go

through to the final. The nine men will contest the final. I think Lee

Emanuel, although they are all tough, may have been quite pleased

to see this particular draw because the third one in particular is very

difficult. Lopez Lomong, who if it is slow is very dangerous. Mekonnen

Gebremedhin, bronze-medallist last time at the world indoors. Jakub

Holusa of the Czech Republic. Homiyu Tesfaye of Germany is having a good

season and Omar Mohamed Abdi is having a good time at the World

Championships. Lee Emanuel with all of his indoor experience as a good

chance here. He had a big win in the New York mail this year, as well. He

won the UK Championships. -- New York mile. Chris O'Hare randomly

Emanuel, the two men who have made it to come and compete here. --

Chris O'Hare and Lee Emanuel. The reason I say this is very open, I

don't think anyone has been dominant. Mekonnen Gebremedhin has

experience and was a bronze-medallist last time, sixth in

the Olympic Games, as well. He was only fifth in the meeting in

Birmingham. This is Homiyu Tesfaye, who is having a good season, a new

personal best indoors of 3.37.35 this year. He was second in that

race I just mentioned. And I think Lopez Lomong, the

American, who again has not been running great but when he needed to

do at the trials and it was a slow race, 3.43, he just out kicked Will

Lear, who will be in the final, the other American.

Lee Emanuel, keeping his wits about him here, he will give himself a

chance in the latter stages. As you said, Paula, that experience winner

in New York earlier on this year. His tactical brain indoors is

everything that is required here and let's hope he can put it to good

use. It is different running indoors, I think I only ran one race

indoors. The banked track makes it different,

it is only half as far around each lap. The style of racing is much

more physical, more contact, and you saw even on the startlingly Romanian

guy giving Lopez Lomong tap, his elbows were too close. He has

asserted himself and gone to the front in trying to control this, but

Lee Emanuel's raced a lot in that situation and you do learn, you pick

it up and rely on those instincts and reactions to get you through.

Particularly, getting through is the key here. It is not about quickest

times it is about what can you do, how can you position yourself? He is

doing brilliantly so far. Just on the shoulders of Ioan Zaizan. You

have the lights of Mekonnen Gebremedhin, Jakub Holusa, they are

rolling doors. -- you have the likes. They are all really good

indoors. You can see he is not sure whether

to go past him, just making his mind up, I need to be aware here. Omar

Mohamed Abdi comes round the outside. Lee Emanuel keep himself

out of trouble, he does not want to read, not yet. When he goes to the

front hopefully it will be decisive. -- he does not want to lead.

Just making sure he is in a perfect position to cover. Another person in

good position is Jakub Holusa who got a silver medal I think the last

time. Probably on paper he would not have been expected to do that but he

just was equipped and able to race indoors and grab it that day. He is

poised to cover any break but for me Lee Emanuel is in a better position

there and able to position -- cover anyone's move at this point. Three

laps to go, this is when you have to be aware and you cannot let people

come round the outside. Take a bullet getting a little nudge

from Ioan Zaizan of Romania. Clickable looser coming around the

outside. Lee Emanuel will have to be aware, it is OK to move to the front

with just over 400 metres to go. He just needs to not put too much

pressure on here because he will get them coming around and attacking on

the outside, he has to hold a little bit back here, there are still 400

metres worth of running to go. Homiyu Tesfaye got himself in a good

position, Mekonnen Gebremedhin is not, he has spent a lot of the race

is boxed in and is struggling to come back on terms with the leaders.

Lee Emanuel pushed off there, he felt the pressure on the upside, he

picked it up. He was pushed to the inside, he just

has not got to panic as Jakub Holusa pushes harder. Lee Emanuel trying to

look for some room, he still has something to give here. Homiyu

Tesfaye attacking down the back straight, take a bullet trying to

hold them. Don't forget, fastest loser spots available, but he will