Shakes-Drayton wins European Indoor 400
British hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton continued to impress on the flat with a commanding gold medal run over 400 metres at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg on Sunday.
The 24-year-old, who failed by one place to make the 400m hurdles final at last year's London Olympics, powered home in a personal best 50.85secs, which was also the fastest time in the world this year.
The silver medal also went to Britain with Eilidh Child more than half a second slower, but setting a new Scottish record of 51.45secs. Sweden's Moa Hjelmer finished strongly to take the bronze medal.
British hopes were also high in the men's 400 metres where they had three qualifiers for the final, but had to settle for a silver for Nigel Levine behind Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic.
The men's 800 metres title was won by defending champion Adam Kszczot of Poland in a time of 1:48.69, with silver going to Spain's Kevin Lopez (1:49.31) and the bronze to rising British star Mukhtar Mohammed in 1:49.60.
There was an upset in the women's 800 metres where, on the final lap, Ukraine's Nataliya Lupu burst clear of strong favourite Yelena Kotulskaya of Russia, with Marina Arzamasova of Belarus in third. Defending champion Jenny Meadows of Britain was fourth.
Shakes-Drayton, who should claim a second gold in the 4x400m relay later Sunday where she lines up with Child and Olympic silver medallist Christine Ohuruogu, said she was delighted with her run.
"Everyone had expectations of me getting gold and in my heart of hearts I wanted gold. To be able to deliver and run a world lead, I didn't expect that. It gives me confidence and hopefully I can transfer it over the hurdles," she said.
"I still want to achieve over the 400m hurdles and I haven't fulfilled my potential so to me I'm still a 400m hurdler and I think that gave me an advantage today, because I'm used to running over 10 hurdles in a 400m so I'm a lot stronger."
