• Aviva Grand Prix

Lewis-Francis woe as Farah breaks British record

Mark Lewis-Francis looked in real pain in Birmingham © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Chambers and Ennis in Euros squad
  
• News: No Ennis fears for Van Commenee
  
• Profile: Mo Farah

Mark Lewis-Francis is a major doubt for next month's European Indoor Championships in Paris after picking up an injury at the Aviva Grand Prix on Saturday, but Mo Farah stole the show with a new British record.

The British sprinter pulled up with a groin injury near the finish of his heat of the 60m. He finished the race but slumped to the ground in real discomfort and was given extended medical treatment.

Farah produced a brilliant run to break the British record in the 5000m. The event is not often run indoors and the record had stood since 1982, but Farah blitzed it with a fine effort. The race boiled down to a two-man challenge between Farah and his new training partner Gaylon Rupp. The American kicked for home with 400 metres to go, but Farah stuck with him and surged to the front off the final bend to clock a time of 13:10.6.

Britain's Phillips Idowu jumped an impressive 17.57m in his first competition of the season, beating his big rival Christian Olsson into second place

Jenny Meadows showed herself to be in fine form heading into the Europeans by posting a season's best 1.59:22 in winning the 800m.

There was further injury woe as pole vaulter Steve Lewis was taken to hospital for an X-ray on a suspected fractured thumb after he landed awkwardly when attempting a height of 5.50m.

Kelly Sotherton will have to settle for a place in the 4x400m relay in Paris after falling below the qualifying standard for the 400m. The 34-year-old, who has switched from the heptathlon, was beaten by Novlene Williams Mills and her time of in 53.70s was 0.7s outside the qualifying standard.

"I got my tactics really wrong but I felt better at the end of the race than I did last week," Sotherton said. "It's a learning curve and it would have been a dream start if I had come here and run well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.