• World Indoor Athletics Championships

Aldama grabs gold as Brits impress in Turkey

Yamile Aldama won Britain's first gold medal in Turkey © Getty Images

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Great Britain enjoyed a welcome boost ahead of London 2012 with a string of impressive performances on the second day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Turkey.

After Jessica Ennis' silver medal in the pentathlon on Friday, Yamile Aldama grabbed Britain's second medal of the championships with gold in the women's triple jump.

British teenager Andrew Pozzi powered into the 60m hurdles semi-finals, stunning former world and Olympic 110m hurdles champion Liu Xiang to progress as fastest qualifier, while Shara Proctor broke her own British long jump record.

Having previously represented Cuba and Sudan, triple jumper Yamile Aldama produced a season's best leap of 14.82m to claim her first medal competing in Team GB colours.

In second place after her first effort of 14.10m, Aldama moved into the gold medal position with her second attempt and although she appeared to tweak her hamstring on her third attempt, it did not matter as she retained her lead. Declining to jump in rounds four and five, her victory was secured when Olga Rypakova no-jumped on her final attempt - the Kazakhstan athlete settling for silver, while Cuba's Mabel Gay took bronze.

Andrew Pozzi, 19, competing in his first major senior championship, made a dream debut as he won his heat in a personal best time, beating 2004 Olympic Champion Liu by 0.01 seconds to reach Sunday's semi-finals.

"It was a really good race," Pozzi said. "I got a pretty good start. I didn't hit any hurdles and I wasn't put under too much pressure by Liu Xiang standing close to me so I'm very pleased. I'm in great shape, training's been going very well and it's a huge honour to be representing Great Britain so I'm feeling good."

Andrew Pozzi beat Liu Xiang © Getty Images

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Shara Proctor cruised into Sunday's long jump final as second-best qualifier with a second-round leap of 6.86m - bettering her own national record by six centimetres. Only American Janay DeLoach jumped further - achieving 6.90m in her third and final attempt.

Andrew Osagie produced a late charge to book his place in Sunday's 800m final, finishing second in his semi-final, but team-mate Joe Thomas missed out. Thomas, who has been in scintillating form this season - setting six personal bests in as many races, struggled with a bruised heel and could only finish fifth after leading at the halfway mark.

Needing to finish in the top two to guarantee qualification, Osagie trailed with 50m remaining, but kicked to overhaul Kenya's Timothy Kitum, finishing second to Ethiopian Mohammed Aman.

"I knew I had to give it my all. No point in saving for the final if you're not in it," Osagie said. "I probably could have won it but I was too busy making sure I got second."

A new personal best for Shana Cox was not enough for a medal as she finished fifth in the 400m in a race won by American Sanya Richards-Ross. Cox appeared to be running well at the halfway mark until her stride pattern was disrupted when she was cut up by American Natasha Hastings, and she never recovered, crossing the line in 52.13 seconds. Russia's Aleksandra Fedoriva produced a late charge to claim silver, with Hastings taking bronze.

Steven Lewis missed out on a medal in the pole vault, finishing fifth after failing to clear 5.80m as Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie claimed gold. Robbie Grabarz reached the high jump final, clearing 2.29m with his second attempt, but Samson Oni missed out.

Britain's men's 4x400m team eased into the final as fastest qualifiers with a commanding performance in the heats. Conrad Williams, Luke Lennon-Ford, Michael Bingham and Richard Buck combined to win their heat in 3:07.42, two hundredths of a second quicker than the American quartet who won the opening heat.

Elsewhere, Jodie Williams and Asha Philip progressed to the semi-finals of the women's 60m, but only as fastest losers.

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