Kluft set to cruise after Barber pulls out

Home favourite Carolina Kluft looked set to cruise towards the European heptathlon title after main rival Eunice Barber of France pulled out injured while in the lead after two events yesterday.

Barber, who came second to Kluft at the last two world championships, withdrew because she was feeling pain in her left thigh.

"I felt it first while training on Sunday," she said. "It's a pity because I was feeling strong but to complete a heptathlon you have to be at 100 per cent."

The news came as a surprise after Barber sounded confident at the end of the morning session, which she finished on top of the standings with 2,201 points.

Barber, regarded as the only athlete in the field capable of upsetting the dominant Kluft, clocked the fastest time in the first of seven disciplines, the 100 metres hurdles, before matching the Olympic, world and European champion in the high jump, both athletes clearing 1.89 metres.

Kluft, competing at a major championship in her home country for the first time, was in second place, 36 points back on 2,165 points, when Barber pulled out.

The eagerly-awaited battle between the world's top two female athletes had started in a great atmosphere, the pair cheering each other on and the fans happily obeying Barber's requests for applause before her attempts.

Finals

Men's shot put: 1. Ralf Bartels (Germany) 21.13 metres; 2. Andrey Mikhnevich (Belarus) 21.11; 3. Joachim Olsen (Denmark) 21.09.

Women's 10,000m: 1. Inga Abitova (Russia) 30:31.42; 2.Susanne Wigene (Norway) 30:32.36; 3. Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) 30:32.72.