World Indoor Championships - Day 1 Athletics

Colin Jackson has won his first gold

medal, he is the champion of the

world. Athletics supporters are

looking on not just in admiration

but in awe.

He's the world champion!

Welcome to a very wintry Birmingham.

But it's my Birmingham, home to the

Villa, the Blues, the Bears, and the

balti. We have 56, does of water,

the most Michelin-starred

restaurants outside of London and in

four years' time we will host the

Commonwealth Games. Birmingham is

also home of British athletics and

we have produced a few decent names

down the years.

Denise Lewis is the Olympic

champion.

Now the world's best have come to

our patch. Four days, 26 gold

medals, come on, let's do this.

Nice one, Denise, and she will tell

us where to find the best balti

later, no doubt. Birmingham like the

rest of the country is freezing now,

you could say it's perfect weather

for indoor athletics, and in London

last summer Britain proves once

again just how good it is at staging

global sporting events after the

success of the outdoor World

Championships the 2018 World Indoor

Championships comes the second city,

four days, six sessions all live on

the BBC, and tonight we kick off

with three gold medals up for grabs,

we will see the men's and women's

high jump, and the women's 3000

metres as Laura Muir challenges for

a world medal once more.

a world medal once more. Welcome to

Birmingham. We are glad you are in

doors, warm, snuggled up, because we

are going to be with you all weekend

and you don't want to go anywhere

else, we have top-class action for

you and a truly global field of

talent to unveil over the next few

days and those medals, by the way,

were made and designed by local

student in a competition and used

some of the iconic buildings of

Birmingham in her designs. Denise

Lewis knows them only too well,

Michael Johnson and Paula Radcliffe

also alongside. Good to have you all

back together again. Thank you,

Michael, for bringing in the

weather. Is the beast from the East

and you are the best from the West.

Well done. Well done.

Denise, this

is your city, you were born in West

Bromwich and raised in Wolverhampton

but Birmingham is where you learned

your trade-in athletics.

Absolutely,

weren't learned to become an athlete

and learned what athletics is about.

I'm a life member of the Harriers,

the best club in the Midlands, if I

can say that, but the city means the

world to me. I've watched its

development and it's fantastic to

have these Championships in

Birmingham again.

Michael, I know

that you didn't run that much in

doors yourself, it wasn't a huge

part of your character. -- calendar.

How important is it for 2018 which

has the world record-holder

Christian Coleman.

It is important,

the US wants to continue dominance,

after the fantastic World

Championships in London last year.

This is a unique team made up of

young up-and-coming talent like

Christian Coleman but on the other

end of the spectrum you have old

athletes like Mike Rodgers, who was

here in 2010 and trying to hang on

and spent time going for the outdoor

team. Those sort of athletes who

made Dummett try to make the outdoor

teams see it as a chance of getting

a medal.

What was it like?

After I

broke the world record, I thought,

why continue?

CHUCKLES

Paula, you didn't run much in doors

focusing on cross-country. The lady

that we will have our eyes on later,

the woman you will be all over,

Laura Muir, has run cross country

this season as well as indoors we

know she hangs sacrificing

Commonwealth Games because of her

studies -- she is sacrificing.

Denied is an important year in her

calendar.

Important and very tough,

she had to fight to get here, eight

hours in the car yesterday fighting

their way down from Scotland and

because of her better replacement

she cannot go to the Commonwealth

Games show she is doing 6000 metres

denied and 3000 metres later. It is

a tough ask, there are six serious

medal contenders and another three

or four who fancy their chances to

get a medal so it's going to be a

tough race.

She was double European

champion last year in Belgrade. She

knows how to do it on the bigger

stages in doors, she is out there

getting a bit of physio ahead of her

warm up later. Paula, in the

athletes who run middle distances,

and longer distances, would normally

go outside to do some running before

coming indoors. It's not

particularly safe underfoot this

evening, very icy, incredibly cold,

Birmingham has not had as much snow

but it's one of the coldest places

in the country now. Will those

athletes be able to do what they

normally do outside?

They will warm

up inside tonight but the shake-out

is this morning that they would have

done it was funny watching because I

watched Konstanze Klosterhalfen,

from Germany, she chanced it

outside, and I saw someone else on

the treadmill, they have been mixing

it up, some will have used a

treadmill and some will not have

done the shake-out at all and come

in and erased, that is what I did.

You didn't go out earlier.

There is

no point shaking out, you need

energy later.

We are on the

precipice of a new era, after the

World Championships we said goodbye

to some big names, Usain Bolt, Mo

Farah, and we have seen British

athletics over the last few years

say goodbye to the likes of Jessica

Ennis-Hill so we asked you to have a

say goodbye to the likes of Jessica

Ennis-Hill so we asked you to have a

look at the field this weekend and

point out some names for us, and all

of our commentators and pundits, to

have a look at some names that not

necessarily will be winning here but

names we may see a lot more of in

recent, coming years. Tellers about

your choice, Michael.

He is a

fantastic athlete, my coaches have

been working with him, Bingtian Su,

he has a unique ability, very good

at the start because of the amount

of power you can display to win in

the angular position coming out. His

problem is once he gets into his

running he cannot continue the same

power so he is not a great as 100

metres, but he's great at 60-metre

indoor running so this is a

fantastic opportunity, he has the

second-fastest time coming into the

championship behind Christian

Coleman.

From Great Britain Richard

Kilty, a former world champion at 60

metres, but never transferred that

global success in the longer 100

metres. There are certain events

that suit athletes more indoors and

they never can translate outdoors

and over the 60 metres Bingtian Su

is a great example.

He is, you will

see 60-metre hurdlers who can be

fantastic at the start. The 100

metres, you do not think

fantastic at the start. The 100

metres, you do not think of it as

endurance but it is about sustaining

speed and he has a problem and some

of the other athletes have a problem

doing that and when they are

fantastic starters they can take

advantage of it indoors.

Paula, tell

us about your choice.

Adam Kszczot.

He is already well-known.

He has won

indoors before but it's the step up

he has made this year. He is more at

home racing indoors, he is a class

apart, unbeaten coming into this,

became a father at the end of last

year so maybe that has going relaxed

and running happy but I think he

will be tough to be here.

He is a

master tactician.

The Polish

athletes tend to be good at racing

indoors but it's indicative of the

weather here. I bumped into him this

morning and he said it's too cold,

if the Polish are saying it's cold

it must be cold!

Denise, you have

gone Swiss.

I have, I young lady who

is the Swiss record-holder in the

100 and 200 metres but recently she

has improved her 60 metres

phenomenally, ran well, 7.03, and

second on the world list going into

these championships. We have seen

her before in 2014 at the European

Championships.

In front of a home

crowd.

Inspired run, over the 100

and 200 but this year she has made

the transition and it is a smoking

60 metres runner she has put

together and if she can hold her

form and home nerve in a very

competitive 60 metres she could do

well and we might see her later in

the year in the European

Championships.

Thank you, guys.

Let's look at the evening and how it

pans out, just three events, the

men's high jump and women's high

jump competitions running

simultaneously, of

simultaneously, of course Esser

Barshim and Robbie Grabarz. In the

women's high jump the lady who is

dominant in the field has won her

last 37 competitions. And Morgan

Lake. And Laura Muir and Eilish

McColgan it, with current world

champion indoors over 3000 metres

Genzebe Dibaba. We have a good night

on the first night. The height of

competition, running at the moment

with the men and women jumping at

the same time, an unusual way to do

it. Steve Backley can tell us how it

is going.

it. Steve Backley can tell us how it

is going. COMMENTATOR: Good evening,

here are the jumpers, the women's

high jump jumping back-to-back.

Authorised neutral athlete cleared

to jump here. The defending champion

Morgan Lake of the back of her

season's best last weekend, so

high-class, absolute top drawer as

you'd expect. At a world indoors,

unusual configuration. Medals on

offer this evening, and here is a

look back at a wobbly start for

Morgan Lake. 1.84. She jumped 1.92

last weekend as a season's best but

put herself under pressure. She

ended up way underneath the first

one underneath the bar, over

striding, so this was her second

attempt and it was also a bit of a

mess, so three jumps, just to remind

you, 3000, you are out. Morgan Lake

put herself under massive pressure

with those two fouls at the opening

night. All other athletes either

clear passing. Morgan Lake was

forced to take her third attempt at

the opening height.

the opening height. So, 1.84 to stay

involved. It was a deliberate effort

but a good one, and showing some

real nerves of steel to control

that. The shake of the head, she is

not happy, it's not the start she

would have wanted but she still

involved. And so it would be a five

centimetre increase to the second

height of 1.89, still within what we

know she is capable of in her recent

form. Her first attempt was a much

better one. Daylight between her and

the bar and that's just what she

would have needed to settle the

nerves. It is a nervy start, I can

only put it down to that. That's

exactly what she would have wanted

at the second height. So, relaxing

between jumps. The nerves hopefully

have been settled. 1.89 first-time

clearance for Morgan Lake. And as

you can see those two high jump

competitions starting simultaneously

at the top of the screen. The main

man from Qatar, the champion from

2017. Erik Kynard, the man who

shared a rostrum with the last

athlete to jump, Robbie Grabarz on

the 2012 rostrum. Lots has happened

since. But it was also a bit of a

wobbly start for a Robbie Grabarz

because he carried a foul also at

his opening height of 2.20.

And that put him in exactly the same

position as Morgan Lake found

herself in at those opening heights.

He trains in Birmingham, he is a

local lad, loss of expectation and

he has friends in the audience. So,

opening height, pressure on.

And he rose to the occasion as you

would expect. And hoped, at least.

A wobbly start for the British high

jumpers there. We talked about the

difference for certain events and

how different it feels indoors. It's

more compact tanned it's two laps

for 400 metres. There by definition

the infield is a lot smaller. I said

to you before, didn't I, it looks a

bit odd, as if they are running up

the lanes to the high jump. It

seemed like Morgan Lake hadn't quite

worked out where she was running for

those first two?

I think it was very

unsettling. We don't see the two

high jump beds facing each other

most. Women are facing where the men

are jumping, the men facing the

women. That is unusual. They are

simultaneously side by side. I just

think both of them really were

unsettled and nervous. Sometimes the

opening height is within your

capabilities there is an airport of

complacency. I don't think they were

attacking their run up enough.

Thankfully they live to fight for

the next height.

Let us hope they

stay in a lot lunger. Laura Muir

will take to the track for the 3,000

metre, not going to the Commonwealth

Games, she has exams in May. She

sacrificed that. These Championships

are important in her calendar year.

She is balancing it all with her

studies, and found time toll chat to

our reporter.

COMMENTATOR:

A historic double at

the European Indoor Championships.

Two Gold medals, the Champion again,

another record.

Double gold in the

Open Indoors, brilliant for me. It

gave me big confidence boost. To set

two Championship records and a

British record at the same time that

was the boost I needed to know I can

come away with these medals.

COMMENTATOR:

It will be the Olympic

champion.

Laura Muir was so close and when you

have the medal snatched away from

you in the latter stages, it's gut

wrenching.

Having a home World

Championships in that stadium was

amazing. Attapatu moss fear is

brilliant. I got to both finals of

1500 and the 5K and gave it

everything I could. I'm proud of how

I ran. It was just one of those

things. I went from being second to

fourth in the 1500. It was hard.

Just being so, so close. It was a

great experience. I learnt a lot. At

the same time just missing out on

that medal. I hope to rectify that

here.

You will be competitive, what

does that mean is a medal you are

targeting?

I think so. It will be

tough for the athletes who have

confirmed. It will be a tough field.

The currented world record holder

the world indoor champion in 1500.

It will be very tough. Dibaba's in

good form. She will be a very big

contend are for me. I think I can

take her on.

When you hit the front

that is it. You are gone.

Championship racing is different.

It's tactical. Can there ever be a

balance where you think - I'm in

good enough shape, strong enough to

take it from the front?

There comes

a point when you think you might be

strong enough to take it on. Other

times people can match on and use

you. You do the work and they sit on

you and you are the pacer

effectively. It's difficult to judge

it and how you can look at things.

Closer to the time we will have a

look at the race, decide who is

running, who is likely and in what

shape and what shape I'm in and how

best to judge it.

Is there like a

baton being passed to you younger

guys with Mo Farah stepping away. A

unyoer generation coming through you

are part of the figurehead of?

Yeah.

I think I was lucky I have competed

on teams with the likes of K much

Jess a few times. Having them

inspires you a lot and gives you

confidence knowing you are competing

alongside the people in the team

that are amazing athletes. Younger

people on the team and hopefully I

can give them pointersnd here and

there and help them out if need be.

It's big Championships, if I can be

there to support them, that would be

We talked about good.

The fact she

arrived late last night because of

the weather and she was at a lecture

yesterday morning for her veterinary

studies. Doing incredibly well to

balance and juggle the different

demands in her life thus far. At the

end of this academic year it will be

athletics all the way. You can

understand her having to sacrifice

the Commonwealth Games?

I completely

understand. She wants to be a

success in every area of her life.

Is her final chance. Her only chance

at her studies. She wants to get it

right. Wants to do it as well as she

can there. Then she will be able to

concentrate on-the-running which we

hope will carry on for a good few

years and be medal hopes. It won't

have been easy to say no to

competing for Scotland in the

Commonwealth Games. Taking one day

off her studies, today, no,

tomorrow. Two-days off.

Anything

like my kids, probably your kids,

all the schools seem to be shut

tomorrow. I don't think her lectures

will be on.

She hiked in through the

snow yesterday morning to that

lecture before being able to leave

and sit for eight hours fighting her

way down. . She tweeted at 11.00pm

when she arrived to the hotel huge

thanks to the driver or they

wouldn't have made it here.

For some

athletes it works to turn off the

pressure of athletics almost and

focus on something as benign as

veterinary studies! It's a tough

degree to be doing anyway. To go

back to her sport and really enjoy

it?

I think it would work for this

year. When you get back into World

Championships and Olympic years, as

she is getting closer to out door

world level medals you have to...

The sport takes everything that you

have. You can't do both. I think

this has to be... This is the last

year she will be able to do that. .

She has achieved incredible things

already with all of that going on in

her life. She's been fantastic

double gold in Belgrade last year.

Which set her up for the out doors

as well. Dominated the field there?

It's a totally different playing

field for her tonight. The level of

competition she is facing is clearly

head and shoulders above that which

she faced in Belgrade. She is maybe

not quite in the shape she was there

because she has been managing that

and managing that energy really

well. . Hasn't raced as well as she

has done in the build-up, as well as

she did in the bellup to #3we8

grade. Let us not heap too much on

her. She will go out and give it her

everything tonight. -- build-up.

Let

us join the High Jump competition.

Is Robbie Grabarz took silver in the

European indoors. Here at the world

indoors he has to go clear to

European indoors. Here at the world

indoors he has to go clear to stay

involved. The bar, second height of

2.25 centimetres. If you have just

joined us, he did salvage a wobbly

start with a clearance of 2.20. That

was his opening height. He's in

exactly the same position here. I

will bring in Toni Minichiello, the

coach is looking on. What can the

coach do here or what should Robbie

do here?

I think it's how Robbie is

running on-the-runway for me. His

inside shoulder, right shoulder, he

is straight. Ing up and going into

the bar. That is taking the bar off.

We saw the third attempt. He put the

energy in.

Robbie Grabarz, 2.25 to

stay involved. Too much tonight.

Well...

Really slowed down. In doing

that, typical of what a lot of high

jumpers do, they slow down to work

strong. As soon as you lose the

speed you won't get in the air,

unfortunately. A bit sad there

really going out on that third

attempt.

attempt.

Three fouls and Robbie

Grabarz, one of a handful of hopes

for medals here in Birmingham, is

done. He will play no further part.

Let us look at this, Toni.

He's

driving out strong. You can see it

rock around a little bit. Not smooth

in terms of that. I think that's the

tough thing. For the first time at

this championships you are seeing a

straight final. There is a

qualifying and you look at the

runway and feel the floor and

understand it better. A bit tough

there.

We know he had injuries this

winter. He is a master of coming

back and being short on preparation

again we thought he would be able to

handle it. Finding his groove, he

wasn't able to do it on this

occasion. His rhythm was out for me

and never got settled. Unfortunately

for Robbie, it's all over. Real

class competition as well. He would

have to be at his very best to stay

involved and get into the medals

here because of Mutaz Barshim. Here

he is in fact. The Qatari world

leader. Jumped 2.38 to take the

title a couple of weeks ago.

Suffered a rare defeat. Barshim,

hugely capable when he gets it

right. Champion last summer in

London. He has jumped 2.40 on a

number of occasions. Barshim. 2.29.

Wow! He defies gravity. Incredible.

Much smoother runway. Much smoother.

Runs in. 2.29, to a man who jumped

in the 2.40s, this is easy for him.

Early days.

He make it look so easy.

What is he doing different?

He

floats in. He has pop. He can get

off the ground. He can get in the

air. He takes off a bit far away

from the bar for me, but when he

elevates he goes up.

No pleasing

some people, is there! Mutaz Essa

Barshim has got pop. Erik Kynard, a

man who enjoys a rostrum,

silver-medallist from 2012.

27-year-old American. No pop.

He

puts in a little stutter step about

three steps away from the bar. Heel

straightens up. That shortening,

straightens up his body so he is

upright. You need to lean as you

come round. That gives you the

rotational force and you convert

that to lift at take-off.

To the

women's on the opposite side.

Michaela Hruba getting ready for her

third attempt here at 1.89 to stay

involved.

Not that time, not that

time. She was under pressure. . Saw

her stop her runway, go back and

start again. This year there is a

new rule, 30 seconds to start your

attempt. Whether it affects the

athletes, they know the clock is

ticking this year quicker than it

was previously.

The height of 2.29.

Only Barshim to go clear so far at

this new height. Starting to sort

out the athletes in form.

out the athletes in form. We look

across to the mirror image as we

look down into the stadium. Iryna

Gerashchenko of the Ukraine. 22ers

ya of age. Wow, that's a... Not even

close there. Athletes struggling.

It's a slightly unusual orientation.

We speculated about the view through

to the other high jump mat and

whether that might affect the

ability to focus of what's in front

of you. No excuses. It's the same

for all.

for all. We see Mateusz Przybylko

get ready. The German champion,

Przybylko. 25 years of age. Fifth in

London last year. Took all three

jumps at that previous height. 2.29

to join Barshim.

No, not that time.

He just doesn't run enough of a

curve, goes down a little bit deep.

Ends up being more like a corner

than anything else for the German

there. That's difficult. Levern

Spencer in the Women's High Jump.

We

look forward to seeing her Down

Under. Wow, really sloppy jumps

here, Toni. I don't know what to

make of it. The last successful jump

was of Mutaz Barshim. We have seen

six fouls since then. Spencer,

highly fancied to challenge for the

medals, 33 years of age. Jumped 1.95

this year is out. Here's a man in

the form of his life, Danil Lysenko.

That's a lovely jump, isn't it?

That's the pop I'm talking about.

Puts his foot down quickly, comes

off quickly and goes straight up in

the air.

the air.

Silver-medallist to Barshim

last year and highly fancied to push

the Qatari athlete all the way.

Lysenko looking really competent. We

switch our attention back to

McPherson of the United States. Oh,

crikey. Not at all happy with those

three fouls. Another athlete

struggling. McPherson. 1.91 her

season's best. Experienced athlete.

So looks like the medals might go a

little softer than we anticipated.

Kynard to stay involved. A skip and

correction there.

We are seeing

that. It needs to be smooth so the

acceleration there can be used for

the jumps. Smooth acceleration. When

you put that skip in, it slows you

down that little bit.

Two fouls for

Kynard, but he's still in third

place, amazingly. Yorgelis Rodriguez

also competing in the pentathlon. We

hope to see Thompson there, it

starts tomorrow morning. Busy few

days for the Cuban 23-year-old.

It has been difficult, out of 11 men

that started the competition six

have gone out and in the women's

competition, I calculate six out of

13 competitors have gone out. I

think they are struggling with the

floor, maybe. Maybe the floor is a

bit soft and not giving them the

return of energy that you would

want. But, yeah...

Sylwester

Bednarek of Poland. No, another man

who is capable. He's jumped 2.33

this year. I don't know what to make

of this, the bar is at 2.29 and he

is left wanting. When you see

somebody like Barshim, Lysenko

popping over with daylight, there

cannot be that much of a problem,

can there?

No, you are looking at

two superbly confident and quality

athletes who, regardless of the

service or anything like that, they

are always going to jump high --

regardless of the surface.

One

athlete still involved is Morgan

Lake. Will look forward to seeing

how her event progresses.

Lake. Will look forward to seeing

how her event progresses.

STUDIO: Disappointing to see Robbie

Grabarz go out so soon in this

competition. Welcome, Colin Jackson,

and happy St David's Day.

Thank you.

What is going on? It is not just

Robbie, high-class high jumpers are

struggling at the minute.

It is not

good out there by the looks of it, I

don't know what is with the

failures. I don't know. Sometimes

athletes come to the championships

and I'm not saying they are not best

prepared but they haven't prepared

specifically for this Championships,

and it mats sound odd to say but

lots of people do the World

Championships with their focus still

on the outdoors so they are in very

heavy training, they might have

tapered off a little bit so they are

not very snappy. The high jumpers

don't look like they have that zing,

Tony Minichiello talked about the

pop. They look lacklustre. Robbie

the same and hopefully Morgan will

improve. That's not Robbie, Robbie

is usually so dynamic. I think he

got one of the host spots, both him

and Morgan had the host places here

so they might not have been in the

best shape coming into the

Championships.

We saw Morgan last

week in Glasgow jump 1.92, and she

got close to 1.95 and looks like she

was clearing it at her final attempt

and looked in decent shape.

It is

interesting coming to the major

championships with what has happened

in between and sometimes you can

rest a bit too much, you have to get

used to the surface again.

Everything is very different than

what they normally are used to. They

are jumping against each other in

that sense, at each other, it's

interesting the whole dynamic for

this high jump.

It doesn't take much

for the athlete's mind to get

unsettled. I know these are the

world's best but it doesn't take

much for them to be out of sorts.

Let's hope Morgan is back in sorts.

Let's hope Morgan is back in sorts.

At edge Morgan will look at this as

an opportunity as we see the world

indoor champion Vashti Cunningham,

the youngest ever, make a

the youngest ever, make a mess of...

Sorry, that was 1.93, this is the

new height as we see the fowl of

Cunningham. There is an insight of

an athlete who has jumped 1.97 this

year.

year. Randall Cunningham,

quarterback, famous man on the right

of the screen in the United States.

So then, Morgan Lake. Three jumps at

the opening height, a clean

first-time clearance of 1.89, the

new height 1.9 three, one centimetre

higher than her best so far. Great

Britain's Morgan Lake strides out

first attempt at the new height. But

nowhere near, Tony.

Didn't start the

run-up in the same way. Veolia

heights she cleared she drove out

the back and ran quickly out of the

back and that sets up the speed. --

the early heights. Start your run-up

and beat vigorous out of the run-up,

that sets up the speed for me. If

she clears this height the medals

are up for grabs, if you clear the

site with the way people are jumping

she has every chance.

Only one

athlete clear so far at this height,

foul at the first time of asking for

Morgan Lake but no one else has gone

clear so there is still an

opportunity here at this height to

get amongst the medals. We probably

wouldn't have speculated that would

be the case but here we are, and

Morgan Lake as you say, Tony,

completely agree, there is an

opportunity. Maria Lasitskene, the

undisputed world leader, dominant,

seven centimetres higher than

anyone, 2.04 is how good she is.

That's interesting, 1.93, she gave

it a wobble.

She did but did you see

how she attacked it? She runs at the

bar and develops the speed and uses

it and she can convert that into a

lift and that's the important thing,

you don't want to slow down going

into the bar because that's

difficult.

From one world champion

to another. From Lasitskene to

Barshim. Very impressive at the

previous height of 2.29. 2.33 also

well within the height we knew he

was capable of. He's jumped 2.38

this year. He's certainly living up

to his billing.

I think so. There is

three big men in this competition

who could challenge for the medals

here, Barshim being one, Lysenko

being the other and Cunard, for me,

I think, and here he is. -- Erik

Kynard.

Erik Kynard successful at

the third attempt of 2.29. And in

fourth place, new high of 2.33. Same

skip.

That is in there, isn't it?

That his rhythm and his run-up and

that's not going to change but I

think that's changing his position.

You've got to stay away from it, Lee

Nguyen, the short step puts his

shoulders on top of his feet meaning

he is upright which will always take

him into the bar. At that point the

only thing you can do is you have to

work the vertical very hard. The

inside leg closest to the high jump

bar, you got to work it and get it

high in the air.

So it looks as

though it's going exactly as was

forecast in the men's version, at

least. Lysenko, this man is looking

as though he's going to make it a

two horse race with Barshim of

Qatar. Cleared to complete, compete

here, as a handful of Russians are

able to compete here at the World

Indoor Championships. Lysenko has a

clean sheet so far. Can he continue

it? Yes, he can, with a useful sort

my word, he jumps straight into the

air, he is a little front on if you

want to be picky on it but look at

the height he gets.

This is going to

be an interesting competition, the

next couple of heights between those

two.

So, perfect sheet so far for

Danil Lysenko. Vashti Cunningham.

One foul so far at this height of

1.93 metres. Maria Lasitskene has

gone clear, the only athlete to have

done so. Cahalane, 1.93.

That's

nice. A very nice. -- Cunningham.

Not quite the perfect card there,

but runs in well, and again UCC runs

in, little two step rhythm into it

but it's great jumping at these

heights. -- you see she runs in.

She

is the world indoor champion from

two years ago, very experienced,

same age as Morgan Lake. So then,

Morgan Lake.

Lake looking to find a rhythm.

Fouled at the first chance to clear

this new height of 1.93. Two

athletes, Lasitskene on the first

time of asking and Cunningham we

have seen just go clear. All eyes

turn to Morgan Lake. Can she join

those two athletes? You would have

to say that this is a chance of a

medal, outside chance.

The way

people are jumping, I think jumping

this now, season's best, she's going

through the ritual, thinking she

needs to be shoulder high on the

inside. She knows they follow card

closely.

Morgan Lake then, 1.93, I

is up at the bar, strides out,

aggressive, she accelerated this

time and it's good! Grey clearance

from Morgan Lake, only the third

athlete to have gone clear at the

second time of asking. Brilliant

competitive effort.

That's

brilliant. Very positive at the

start of the run-up, set up the

speed and maintained it more.

Excellent. She leans away, something

she seldom does, and goes up. If she

has a fault it is that she doesn't

lean enough really. Speed and lean

away from the bar. Well done, that

could be a medal winning jump.

She

almost needed those three wobbly

starting jumps to settle her nerves.

That is a much more competent

clearance for Great Britain's Morgan

Lake. It is early to start talking

medals but at the moment she is in

third place. 1.93 at the second time

of asking, season's best.

third place. 1.93 at the second time

of asking, season's best. Great

stuff. STUDIO: She is very happy

with that. This is the heptathlete

focusing on high jump for the last

season and a half and really putting

her efforts into this and it is

starting to bear fruit. You can see

the way she mentally shifted herself

in the competition with the wobbly

stats. In the past she would have

let that get to her but she turned

things round.

She turned things

round very well indeed. What I'd

like to see from her is not starting

with her long tights on because I

think she uses that as a sort of,

OK, I'm still going through the

motions as opposed to saying, I am

here to do business and there is a

realistic chance of a

realistic chance of a medal for me

if I get my clearances in early. And

then you see when she has those

wobbles then she takes off her

tights. I think mentally she needs

to just get in there very early on

from the get go. Establish the

run-up, it says to her she needs to

increase her speed because athletes

strip off kit and get ready for

business but she leaves her tights

on. It's a small thing but it's a

fundamental thing.

You are shaking

your head in agreement, Michael.

I

didn't notice until you mentioned

that but there is a mindset and you

have to go into this, remembering

with this particular championship

the high jumpers didn't have a

preliminary round so getting used to

the chat, getting used to the new

setup, they didn't have the

opportunity to do it. You don't want

to carry the same mindset from your

warm up into competition, and there

are some small things that you might

not think will be so significant and

that will affect your mindset, and

that could very well be one of them.

And quickly, the same thing on the

mindset, the way she is Bridget when

she qualified, it wasn't excitement,

it is, right, I'm back in the game

and that is a positive mindset to be

in. Not celebrating early, she is

there.

Let's get back outside

because that was obviously positive

news in terms of a medal for Morgan

Lake. Steve.

news in terms of a medal for Morgan

Lake. Steve. COMMENTATOR: As will a

catalyst trust of Italy, a chance to

equal Morgan Lake, and does. She is

delighted with that. And so she

should be. That puts her equal with

the Brit with a second time

clearance of 1.93. Let's have a look

at this.

That's just effort. You see

people, you know how much it means

to them, they know how much they

need to do and UCF it, somebody

raises their game, full force on the

floor, drive in and get up in the

air. That is a good competitive jump

and what you want to be seeing. --

and you see it.

Here is a very

capable high jumper, Yuliya

Levchenko, second on the world lists

with 1.97. Silver-medallist last

summer. Seven, Lepchenko, off a foul

on the second attempt. No!

She got

that completely wrong. That's

pressure. I think that's pressure.

You are in fifth, you have won

medals at the World Outdoor

Championships and you know you are

somebody who should be in the top

three, its pressure.

Pressure for

Erik Kynard of the United States,

two fouls, 2.33, can he handle the

pressure? No, that's a surprise.

He

finishes in fourth place. He's

ripped his number off and he knows

he has not done himself justice

today in this competition. He is

outside, he is in fourth, little

shrug to his coach and he will be

disappointed with that. It is tough

for the Americans, they had their

trials two weeks ago in Albuquerque

and then they have to fly to

Britain, you've got jet lag to deal

with and the American trial system,

the first three across the line, is

a tough competition so you have a

tough competition two weeks ago and

then to come here and raise your

game further is a difficult mindset

to deliver, I think.

It's all about mind-set when you

come to a championships that is what

many athletes love about the

competition that a championship

brings. A difficult mentality to

competing on the circuit, as it

were. Back to the women's side of

this arena here in Birmingham.

Demireva carries two fouls.

Surprised she hasn't passed here and

maybe looked at the next height.

She's in sixth place. The only

athlete at this height who is

carrying two fouls. You could argue

she may could have had a look at the

next height. Probably won't get her

into the medals. Won't at this

height. She will have to clear a

high height anyway. Anyway, it's all

the strategic game of high jumping.

Mirela Demireva of Bulgaria. Two

fouls, 1.93.

Just got too close to

that, leaned in and took it off on

the way up on her jump. It was tough

for her. That would have been a

season's best. She hasn't jumped

that high this year. That is why she

didn't pass because the next height

up would have been too big an ask

for her.

for her.

Przybylko getting ready for

his 2.33. Last chance to stay

involved.

involved.

He's happy with his bronze

medal.

He knows he has a bronze. He's happy

there. Looking at the card was he

likely

likely to beat Barshim and Lysenko.

That was Morgan Lake getting ready.

Danil Lysenko.

Danil Lysenko. Levchenko watching

on. They are alternating side to

side, allowing the alternate mat to

take the precedent and have the

freedom of jump.

You don't want to be running at

someone jumping, that is a unique

experience.

The judges are timing it

from your point of view. When you

are high jumping you are looking at

the grass field behind. Are you not

throwing any more, so probably not.

Levchenko, third attempt.

Levchenko's out.

She's in fifth

place. Four athletes remain, Great

Britain's Morgan Lake is one of

them.

them. Mutaz Essa Barshim 2.36. Love

the way he eyes it up from that

right hand side. Oh, surprise there.

Deaccelerated. As you slow down into

the bar and use that speed to

convert to go up. By slowing down,

he's not converted enough of the

speed and he's dropped on the bar.

Basically, he's stalled.

Why would

you slow down?

You are thinking.

Slowing down. Maybe a little bit too

close, a little bit too far away.

Here we go. Lysenko. This is like

gun slingers, the first man to

blink. Barshim has blinked. Let's

see how he gets on here.

That's as

close as he gets to a clearance

without it being one. Must have just

given that the slightest of rattles.

It's a foul.

At that point he is

saying - tuck your vest in.

Look at

this. His socks too thick.

Something

like that! They are on exactly the

same record. They are both going to

be tied for that first place.

So

then, cat-and-mouse on the men's

side. Lysenko authorised neutral

athlete and Barshim. On the women's

side, Lake finds herself in fourth

place. Total fouls remember.

That's

interesting Steve. It's the two

fouls at 1.84.

The opening height?

That opening height that may cost

her the medal in the end. That early

failure. That runway really that she

didn't quite get right. Didn't get

the rhythm early. It may cost her.

Get the rhythm early. Barshim

looking to do exactly that. Rhythm

on the approach. Massive height.

Came down on that didn't he? He did.

He knows that, you know, he blinked

first and Lysenko blinked. He had a

chance there. Again, just trying to

muscle it off the ground a little

bit, instead of using that wonderful

flow he has.

Mariya Lasitskene, 2

metres 4. 1.96 easily.

She's in a

competition of her own. Well better

than anybody else. Been over two

metres already this year. She's the

class of the field.

From one

authorised neutral athlete to

another, Lysenko. 2.36. He knows

this is a chance to possibly take

gold here because he's seen the only

other athlete who can stop him,

Barshim on two fouls, Lysenko on

one. Second attempt.

Not as good as

the first, was it? Not as good as

the first. He'll know, one more

attempt or are we heading for a jump

off?

They have identical cards so

far. It's not out of the question.

Two fouls of this height of 2. 36

and a clean card up to this height.

Lysenko and Barshim, neck and neck.

One jump remaining. One jump

separates the two. Who is your money

on?

I'd hate to see. I'm not a

gambling man, I'm not a gambling

man.

Vashti Cunningham of the United

States. A bit of pride, she's

watching her title being taken here,

unless she can do something about

it. 1.96, first attempt. Too much.

Again, slows down and stands up.

Keep leaning. Lean away. Ride that

bicycle round the corner, that kind

of feel. If you rotate the floor you

limit the height you can achieve.

What you are trying to do is be in

the strongest position you can. You

put your feet directly underneath

your shoulders. Instead of what you

should be should do, put your feet

out ahead of you.

The coaches

watching on. The coach is up close

here, getting in the ears of their

athletes. So, two athletes remain on

the men's side. The first final. A

roar from the man they call The

Prince of Qatar. Mutaz Essa Barshim.

How much do you want this World

Indoor title, third and final jump,

one more attempt. 2.36 for Barshim.

Came down on that, again.

Three

fouls.

He's not out.

He has had

three fouls so finished in those

terms. If Lysenko goes clear, then

Barshim cannot respond. If Lysenko

knocks it off we have a jump off.

Just rotating on the floor and

backing in there. If he'd looked at

his mind-set. The way the whole

stadium went quiet for him as he

mediated in that way and let out

that roar and run. He gathered

himself. A lot of effort.

So then,

Morgan Lake. Season's best already.

1.96, first attempt.

1.96, first attempt.

Unlucky there.

If I'm right in thinking that would

have represented a personal best

indoors and out doors. Again, 1.96

an early look at it. Again, why not.

She's got to step up as an athlete

now, really. At the age she's at.

She has been to major championships.

She has to believe, it's my time,

step up and compete. It's a perfect

competition.

She's done it time and

time again. As we turn our attention

back to the men's side. Danil

Lysenko this jump to win the

competition. Asks for a hush here.

You could hear a pin drop, as I look

around the stadium here. Two fouls.

A battle with himself.

Massive jump from Lysenko. That's a

Gold medal jump. He looked as good

as Barshim. He matched him and then,

in the end, bettered him.

He asked

for hush. I've never seen that. The

crowd, bless them, were incredibly

quiet. You could hear his feet

scraping.

He composed himself. That's class.

That is class. Look at that.

Very

competent jump. Do you know what, a

bit of needle there, the man

deprived of a Gold medal last summer

to Mutaz Barshim. They have swapped

places. Gold becomes silver, silver

becomes gold. Lysenko has risen to

the top.

You may lose Bolt and

athletes of that level, but we can

see some rivalries. Barshim,

Lysenko. We can see rivalries.

Unfortunate they won't go

head-to-head in major championships.

Rivalries is the critical thing.

20

years of age, Lysenko.

Yeah, high

jumps are young men and ladies game.

They jump high at young ages and

they keep jumping those heights.

A

foul there. 1. 1.# 6. -- 1.96. Too

much for her. Morgan Lake still

involved. The men's final is

concluded. Only the women's yet to

be decided.

be decided. Mariya Lasitskene is out

in front. The reigning champion is

still involved, Vashti Cunningham,

about to take her second attempt, so

is Morgan Lake. Cunningham, second

chance at 1.96. That's close.

That's

much better. Much better jumping

there. Athletics is that mental

game.

game. Trust Trost will think she has

a comfortable bronze. Morgan has to

believe in herself and take it away

from her. Why not, why not?

Why not

indeed. A great time to really come

of age, two 20-year-olds battling it

out. Morgan Lake. Well, whatever

happens here, Morgan Lake has done

better than her sixth place last

year at the London Out door

Championships. Guaranteed fourth or

better. 1.96 this a medal potential

jump. Second chance. Knocked it off

on the way up.

On those last two

steps. Her inside shoulder on her

left shoulder, tip it is towards the

bar. When she jumps, she is jumping,

just drifts in. You see how she

rotates that shoulder away, the left

shoulder. That takes her in towards

the bar am you have to have the

courage to stay away and then go

vertical. Come on Morgan.

Come on

Morgan. It may be taken out of her

hands because if Alessia Trost goes

clear, it makes Morgan's task even

more difficult. Trost carrying a

foul in the first jump. We've seen

Morgan foul twice at this height of

1.96.

1.96. Trost very capable, two metre

jumper back in 2013, indoors. Fifth

in Rio. Trost has a Championship

pedigree. Of sorts at least. She has

a Hans here to confirm her bronze

medal. Second jump, 1.96.

No. No.

Really bad. Just leads in with that

right arm. Just pushes it towards

the bar and you should push it up

into the air. Still in third. One

more jump left.

more jump left.

Mariya Lasitskene in

a class of her own. Morgan Lake in

fourth place at the moment.

Cunningham will get the first chance

to go clear at the third time of

asking. There's Khan, coach to

Morgan lake. -- lake. Striding it

out. Nod of approval, hopefully

giving Morgan the confidence she

needs. She needs to let go and trust

this now. First up, Vashti

Cunningham. Off two fouls. Third

chance.

Just came out of her arch early.

Came out of her arch early. What you

have to do is wait. You rotate

around the bar like a bicycle wheel

and then flick your legs out. Got

the timing wrong.

Technical stuff

aside. An emotive jump for Morgan

Lake. She has to not think about it

and go for it. That is what I'm

thinking.

You are right. It's about

adrenaline, motivation, power. You

don't have to make it technical. Now

is your time. A medal on offer. If

you clear this, I'm not sure the

Italian can beat you.

I completely

agree. A medal chance for Great

Britain's Morgan Lake. Currently in

fourth place off the back of a

season's best at the previous

height.

She's moved the runup back.

I saw her do it earlier. Moved it

back a foot. Further away, giving

herself more room. Physical she runs

that speed and stays away...

Morgan

Lake, 1.96, third try. Over striding

there. You could see that.

It was

that. You move the runner back to

counter act what you are doing. It

makes you open up and pushes the

shoulder further ahead. Ah, that was

such an opportunity there really to

step into a medal. She will know.

She will know. For me, she's been

quite a nervous young lady. You see

her jump really well when she smiles

and relaxed and comfortable. You see

her jump really well. Didn't quite

see that today. It's the early

failures, running underneath the bar

in the first attempt at. Messing up

the run at second time. That is what

cost her.

Big confidence boost for

Morgan Lake. Fourth place, the most

agonising place to finish at a

championships.

She is out, three falls at 1.96,

fourth place here this evening. --

three fouls. Crossed is guaranteed

bronze, and can improve, but that's

her third foul also -- Trost. The

competition is over. The Italian

will take bronze, Cunningham Silver,

1.96, three fouls. There is one

athlete, this hugely dominant high

jumper, Maria Lasitskene gets ready

for 1.99. She hasn't had any fouls

so far as we look back at Trost. She

will be pleased with a medal.

Definitely, she hasn't jumped

anywhere near the two metres she has

jumped career-wise. Is that jump

necessary? Do I want to improve my

bronze to a silver? You would hope

so but she will be satisfied with

that. Opportunity missed for Morgan.

Now is her time at the age of 21,

22, that's when you start jumping at

the top of your height and when you

must cement the two-metre jump. You

can jump 1.96 and 1.97 and win

medals and championships. This is a

young lady who has committed herself

to high jump now, I think that's the

sensible way forward for her, based

at the National performance

Institute at Loughborough, full-time

coach, everything going for you.

Unlucky. Maria Lasitskene, the world

leader, 38 consecutive victories,

would you believe? Her last defeat

was in 2016 ahead of Ashley

Cunningham. Morgan Lake in fourth

place.

Here is the men's result.

It was a win for Danil Lysenko,

silver-medallist last summer, and

Barshim, surprise defeat command

Robbie Grabarz, disappointed, I'm

sure, with 2.20 in ninth place.

Robbie Grabarz, disappointed, I'm

sure, with 2.20 in ninth place. What

will be overriding emotion be for

Morgan Lake because that's an

improvement on a global standing at

a major competition compared to the

Worlds in London, but frustration

springs to mind because of the early

mistakes.

Absolutely frustration.

She should be frustrated. What she

has seen now she has moved

completely too high jumper is that

even when you are not at your best

you can still come away with a medal

in competitions like that providing

you have the discipline in the early

rounds, and, you know, she will be

gutted because that bronze medal was

so there. She looked better as the

rounds went on and the Heights got

higher. Very frustrating, I think,

for her.

In terms of the final

height what were your thoughts on

her approach and technique?

I was

thinking more of a positive spin on

it for her because we know how

talented she is and how she can

deliver so to come to a major

championships and deliver a season's

best, only two high jumpers

delivered a season's best, so I

think he will be positive for her

moving forward and I like the fact

she improved, she moved her shoe out

and became more aggressive to try

and get the medal again.

Lysenko

already assured of the gold...

Sorry, Lasitskene, the men's winner

we saw earlier on. Lasitskene going

for 2.01 and she has cleared that

many times. She is an incredibly

formidable high jumper but it must

be quite tough when you have already

got the gold and go out and push

yourself to be competitive against

yourself.

I think that part of

athletics is being competitive for

yourself, looking for faster times

and higher jumps become a -- because

there are records and trying to show

you are the best you can be

producing best performance when it

counts, trying to get a higher

height, you will do that in

competition rather than trying to do

it in practice, your chance of

getting that height is better in the

competition. The motivation comes

from trying to get up on that world

all-time list, I'm sure the

motivation was there but it didn't

happen for her today.

Let's look at

Lysenko and his winning jump, which

was when he gets it together a thing

of beauty.

You have seen consistency

in his run-up. That clearance was

just staggering. That consistency of

run-up is key to jumping heights

because you trusted, your placement

is correct every time you go to take

off and you set up technically in

the right position to give yourself

the room to clear the height.

Unfortunately for Morgan today when

we think about the differences

between the consistent jumpers and

being consistent jumpers it is about

work on the runway and the position

they arrived to the bar in.

Tony

mentioned the rivalry from Barshim

from last summer to today, that will

be a great thing to watch over the

years, just 20 years old.

The fact

he is so young and energetic, but

also to add to that he has this

genuine skill and desire to jump

high. He took on the challenge and

he will look at Barshim and think he

is the world champion and has jumped

really high and I've got to take him

out and he did it today.

Lasitskene

is going for 2.01 again and she gets

it and she still doesn't look very

happy.

But it's effortless. She's

got to be citing the world record at

some stage in her career because she

is so consistently over two metres.

2.10 is a big jump, it has been a

world record for sometime.

She's got

it in her.

She has to, at least

consistently deliver on the big

stages, the next step is world

records.

Maybe that's what she is

saving the big smile for.

LAUGHTER

She is the world indoor champion,

though, and congratulations to her

and in the end it was a great high

jump competition. Coming up on the

track, the first race on the track,

the first final of these

championships is the women's 3000

metres. One year ago in Laura Muir

conquered the European Indoor

challenges that lay before her in

Belgrade with two golds. This is a

chance for her to win her first

global medal on the world stage.

COMMENTATOR: Once more, what an

athlete this woman is, Genzebe

Dibaba. It will be gold. It's going

to be a gold medal for Netherlands

as Hassan

as Hassan wins the title. Look at

this last lap from Hellen Obiri.

Gold to Kenya. But here is Laura

Muir. She has now got two gold

medals and she is the champion again

and it's another record.

STUDIO: Paula Radcliffe is in the

commentary box ahead of this race

for us. Paula, we have seen the

athletes come out and they have had

their first taste of the track

tonight. You were watching from up

there, no doubt. Your thoughts on

Laura this evening?

She has come

into this year and it's a bit of an

off year for her, we mentioned how

she is concentrating on her studies.

In some ways that means she is tired

but also there is no pressure on

her. Wenxiu came in with those

expectations last year in Belgrade,

she can really go out and have fun

tonight. Having said that, the other

girls will be well aware she has

already won and they will look to

her to see when she makes her move.

There will not be anyone apart from

Klosterhalfen or Dibaba who will

make a move before Laura Muir

tonight.

Tactics, Laura Muir loves

to take it out and she loves the

front running but indoors it's very

difficult to have it your own way

and at a major championship it is

difficult to have it your own way

like that.

It is. Undoubtedly she

will have come in with a plan but

she and Andy will have sat down and

made a plan but it must be flexible

because like you said indoors things

can change so quickly and she must

be well aware of what is going on

around her, who is around her and be

careful when she is making moves.

Paula, you mentioned early on to

make the field is loaded, Genzebe

Dibaba, the world champion from two

years ago is in there amongst others

and they know the threat that Laura

poses to them, obviously from London

and racing her on the circuit. What

kind of tactics will Dibaba go for?

Interesting, Dibaba has raced well,

she has run a 3.57, undoubtedly in

good shape, not as good a shape as

the years when we have seen her come

out and run 8.16. She will be aware

Laura Muir has finishing speed,

Hoolahan can close very fast guy she

closed in 28 seconds in the US

championships so if they let it go

to slow she becomes a big danger. I

think Dibaba might panic. She has

the likes of Obiri and Hassan who

will not make a move early on and

she might decide to go early which

will help Laura.

She knows all about

Obiri and Hassan because she was in

the race with them in the summer,

the 5000 meteors in London when

Obiri won gold and Hassan took the

bronze -- 5000 metres.

All of the

runners know and respect each other

here and they know where each

other's strengths lie and I'm sure

there is lots of respect for Laura

Muir among them and lots of fear for

the way she runs, she runs in a

fearless way and she will take you

by the scruff of the neck and she is

not afraid to lay it all out there

and I fully expect her to do that

tonight but I hope she doesn't go

too soon.

Thank you, Paula. We will

hear from the Eilish McColgan who is

of course running tonight as well

with her very famous coach and mum,

of course, Liz McColgan. We saw them

together earlier this evening. This

is what Eilish had to say about this

one.

I feel like a medal would be a

very tough ask considering it's

probably the best fielding history

of 3000 metre running. For me, if I

could go in and run a PB that is all

I could ask for. I Lutfur Rahman a

fast race and a strong race and come

out of things knowing that I have

the speed in my legs and that sort

of pace which will help me over the

5K later on this year. Outdoor 5K is

my priority so I feel like a three K

is a good training thing for me to

do to work on my speed work for the

outdoor season. So, yeah, for me to

run a PB and be competitive that's

what I want to become a competitive

against these girls and not fear

them because anything can happen in

any indoor race. I think there is

something like 12 girls sub 8.42. We

have probably had five goals in the

history in the UK run sub 8.42. Is a

strong field, Hassan from the

Netherlands, Obiri comp Dibaba and

Laura Muir, so even the top side of

things is very strong but the depth

throughout the field as well --

Obiri and Dibaba. It is a really

unique race, much stronger than the

1500 so I'm really excited and

almost intrigued to see how it will

go. I just can't wait to get out

there now and hopefully come away

with a quick time.

STUDIO: We

mentioned, of course, Laura Muir

sacrificed the Commonwealth Games

because of her studies. Colin, you

were a star at both, world indoors

and world Commonwealth Games, but

knowing how much it means to her

knowing how much it means to her off

to race for Scotland she will be

putting so much into this diet, you

Laura Muir, because this is a big

Championships, because until the

Europeans in August this is it for

her.

This must be her focus now, she

will engage with the whole crowd and

hope the home supporters will see

her through. This is incredible, as

has been said, an incredibly

talented field, at no stage in the

race will there be what I would

describe as clear air where you

could run free and fast. There will

always be competitive aspects to it

and Laura will relish the

opportunity of the home crowd giving

her support. She knows this is a

good opportunity for her and I think

all of us will be cheering her every

single lap.

She was so good in

Belgrade, the field not nearly as

strong as it is tonight.

Yeah, it's

not a strong. It was strong in

Belgrade and tonight it is. She is a

different athlete, she talked about

how her mindset is. She is a

different athlete. We must commend

her with making those tough

decisions that suit her as a

professional athlete but as a

veterinary student going forward.

That's her life going forward.

Making those life choices are

important and you've got to get it

right.

Steve Cram is up on our

commentary platform ahead of this

one. Welcome back from Pyeongchang,

Steve, glad you made it back for

this one and four tonight because

there seems to be a tempering of

expectation of Laura Muir ahead of

this perhaps compared to the World

Championships because her studies

have been so intense, she has

perhaps not on the level of training

she had a hell of Belgrade last

year. Could she surprise us? Could

she get on to the rostrum? Do you

expect her to push for the medals?

Expect is a strong word. Yes, Laura

expects that. I spoke to her at the

hotel. She is very relaxed. This is

tough. She know it is's tough.

Dibaba, Paula said is beatable.

Obiri is beet beatable.

Obiri is beet beatable. -- beatable.

Hassan has won one race. She needs

to be patient. If she gives herself

a good chance on the last lap I

think she could win a medal.

Lasitskene had her final attempt.

Walking away from here tonight with

that Gold medal that she cleared at

2.01 earlier. She's so far and away

the dominant high jumper in the

world. As Denise said, one day

perhaps that world record will be

hers and maybe not too far away. .

Back to that 3000 metres. The

fireworks are coming. The grand

entrances will be coming in a moment

as well. Just see that failure one

more time. Steve, they will make

their entrance into the arena in a

moment. Eilish McColgan will hope

it's the start of another good year

for her. She made great progress

last year?

She made great progress.

At the European Indoor door

Championships where Laura won Eilish

McColgan got bronze and kicked them

into a a good season. I think they

made a mess of it. That high jump

was great. The girls were told there

may be a little delay. Nothing worse

than lining up for a World

Championship final and that is what

it is and being delayed. That isn't

a Grand Prix event. It should have

been choreographed better. This is

has not been good for the 3,000

girls they are ready to come out.

Thank you Steve. I wouldn't expect

anything else but a crumble on night

one. We love you for that. They are

ready to come out now for the 3000

metres. The first race on the track.

The first final on the track of

these World Indoor Championships.

After that almost medal chance there

from Morgan Lake what will it do for

the British team if Laura Muir can

push herself amongst the medals?

It's a natural lift. Be honest,

medals for the British team are

going to be light on the ground.

That's for many reasons, one in

particular, you highlighted, the

Commonwealth Games. People are

making the choice not to be here.

Commonwealth Games. People are

making the choice not to be here. It

will be great for the team if she

can deliver here.

The fireworks are

coming, the lights are down. Steve

Cram it's over to you and Paula

Radcliffe.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you. They will be

introduced from that door on the

right hand side. The far side of the

track. The fireworks, whatever else

we are going to get, will begin in a

couple of seconds time. Out one by

one fairly quickly. The track events

more of an individual introduction.

This is an incredibly strong field.

Genevieve Lalonde had a good start

to her season. New Canadian record

holder. Then second out is Eilish

McColgan. As I said, Eilish McColgan

that indoor performance where she

picked up a couple of places on the

last 200 metres really set her up

nicely for an incredible year for

her in terms of times and

performances. Tamara Armoush,

running for Jordan. 9.27. She will

do well to stay with this field.

Sifan Hassan. I said - I can't see -

she's run a good 3000. Trains in

America. Dominique Scott, very good

last 18 months or so. Former

US-based South African. The next

athlete out I think, Paula is right

to highlight as a threat. Shelby

Houlihan doubled up with the US

champs. She had a great 3000 race

and won the 1500. In the shape of

her life. Konstanze Klosterhalfen

the 21-year-old German who loves to

front run. Ran a superb time at the

German Championships on her own.

Genzebe Dibaba the two-time

championship at this distance at the

World Indoors. At her best very

difficult to beat. Katie Mackey the

second of the two Americans. Pipped

Colbourne on the line in the US

championships to take the second

spot. Fantu Worku may do work for

Dibaba or help her out. She's only

18. Good junior career and her first

taj of a major championships as a

senior. Meraf Bahta, runs for

Sweden. She is wondering where to

go. Former European Champion at 5000

metres. Laura Muir will get a great

reception. As Paula was saying, an

eventful journey down. Two flights

cancelled. Decided to make it by

car. Had to fight their way down the

M74. Thankfully after that things

got easier. It was late last night

she got here. Seems pretty relaxed

about that. Hellen Obiri almost

tripping up. Can she add the World

Indoor title here. Hellen Obiri a

were former World Indoor Champion in

2012 herself. Well, I think for

distance runners it's the sort of

race that they really relish with

Laura Muir taking on some of the

world's best distance runners at

1500 and 5000 metres coming together

at the classic 3,000-metre distance.

15 laps indoors. Eilish McColgan

joining Laura Muir in their quest to

win a medal for Great Britain.

3,000-metre race which brings

together the quick 1500 metre runs,

the distance specialists as well.

With Laura Muir having 1.59 800

metres with the likes of Genzebe

Dibaba will not hang around until

the last two or three laps. Others

can finish fast. As Paula rightly

said. Paula, as ever, these races

tend to start slowly and then at

some point it will get going?

They

did. The prize for starting the

slowest went to Genzebe Dibaba. She

gave the others a good second or so

head start. She has got what she

wanted. Able now to track Sifan

Hassan and keep her eye on the rest

of the field. Laura Muir has found

herself at the front. Which is

probably what the rest of the field

would have expected.

Laura I think

is an athlete who excels indoors.

She is a great out door runner.

She's even better indoors, I think.

That's partly her stature, that

helps. The bad weather up in

Glasgow, she said I don't mind I've

been training indoors for indoor

championship. Hellen Obiri right

there as well. One Kenyan in this.

Konstanze Klosterhalfen in

particular another who likes to

front run. Klosterhalfen, just that

slightly longer stride. Might feel

more comfortable out front.

Wen couldn't get much pushing in the

3000. Laura Muir set off at a

reasonable pace. Not too slow. It's

certainly not the race pace that

these women are capable of.

No, you

can see Eilish McColgan having to

chop her stride. Another one, like

Klosterhalfen with a long stride.

She is trapped on the curve there

behind Laura Muir. She's chopping

her stride. Clipped by Dominique

Scott behind her. You can tell she

is not happy there. If a gap opens

up, don't be surprised if you see

Eilish McColgan grabs it and

Klosterhalfen has decided to wait

her time a little bit.

Six of the

last seven champions in this

distance have come from Ethiopia.

The one that didn't was Hellen Obiri

from Kenya. Were it to not be one of

those two nations winning, then we

breaking long, goes all the way

back, these championships haven't

always been held in two years. 2003

in Birmingham the year after they

were held immediately one year

afterwards.

afterwards. Genzebe Dibaba would

love to make it three world titles

for her. Hassan winning the 1500

metre title in Portland. No slouch

in the latter stages. It was a medal

of 5000 she won outdoors. There she

is, Sifan Hassan. Only won one race,

only the 3000 this years?

It counts

in knowing what shape she is in. She

took time to settle into the

training group in Portland. She was

a little bit not herself last year.