Dwain Chambers Begins European Campaign

Dwain Chambers showed his intent in the opening heats of the 100m as he clocked a time 10.21 to win his race and progress to the semi finals.

The 100m has been tipped as one of the big showdowns of the championships as Chambers is expected to go head to head with Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, the European number one, for the gold.

And despite stumbling out of the blocks in the opening race Chambers pulled away from the field and crossed the line in a jog and definitely has more in the tank come the latter stages of the competition.

Lemaitre, who has become the first white man to run under ten seconds, did clock a quicker time of 10.19 seconds in eat five to be the fastest qualifier.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the race Chambers said: "It's a case of playing your cards right and keeping your head cool and negotiating each heat without getting hurt.
 
"I know what I'm capable of and I know what Christophe is capable of but I'm confident. May the best man win."

But it’s not just about Chamber and Lamaitre as Mark Lewis Francis put in the best performance of his season to come home just behind the Frenchman in 10.23, the third fastest qualifying time.

It was good news all round from a British perspective as  James Dasaolu also reached the semi final in his first major championship as he came third in his heat.

Phillips Idowu needed just one jump to qualify for the triple jump final as he aims to add European glory to the world title he won twelve months ago.

Nathan Douglas also made the final as he tries to put an injury hit season behind him.

Jenny Meadows is one of Britain’s big medal hopes in Barcelona and she got her 800m campaign underway this evening.

Meadows picked up a bronze at the world championships last year in Berlin but has had injury problems earlier this season that threatened her preparation for the Europeans.

But she appears to have put all those problems behind her as she cruised home in second to reach the final.

Jemma Simpson won her heat to join Meadows but it wasn’t good news for Marilyn Okoro who missed out on a fastest loser spot.

Okoro has been dogged by injury problems all season and qualifying for the Europeans was an achievement in itself.

Despite leading the race she didn’t have enough in the home straight to hold off the competition and her fourth place finish was not to be enough.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw