Relay romp sends Britain third at Athletics World Cup

After ending Saturday's opening session in fifth place, three silver medals and three bronzes - alongside the relay gold - helped the hosts battle back and end just seven points behind second-placed Poland.

The relay team of Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Shannon Hylton ran a near-perfect race of 42.52 seconds to earn Britain's third gold of the weekend in the London Stadium.

"I love competing at this stadium and wanted to run the first leg right to put the girls in the best possible position," said Philip, bronze medallist at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Hylton, 21, added: "I've never run an anchor leg before and was pretty nervous when I felt them right behind me, but it was brilliant to hold on."

Adelle Tracey, one of seven teenagers to light the cauldron at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, sent sparks flying on her return to the stadium with 800m silver.

Tracey ran an astute tactical race and, despite being overtaken by USA's Raevyn Rogers on the final straight, comfortably secured second with a time of 2:01.05.

"I was really happy to come away with a medal and do it for the team," said the 25-year-old, third in the British Championships.

"It's incredible to come back to the Olympic Stadium. I've got a lot of history here and it's a special experience whenever I return."

Morgan Lake's successful season continued with silver in the high jump, clearing 1.93 metres to win seven points for the hosts.

Meanwhile Nick Miller, ranked third in the world, came up a metre short in his hammer throw duel with world number one Wojciech Nowicki but a 76.14 metre throw earned silver.

The 25-year-old continues his convalescence from illness ahead of August's European Championships in Berlin.

"The first throw was a safety to make sure I got some points for the team and I'm just really happy to contribute points," said Miller, the first Brit to throw further than 80 metres.

"I'm slowly on the mend and hope by August I'm back to where I was.

"Woj is a good friend but I want to beat him and I'm sure he'd say the same."

Beth Dobbin and 2011 world champion Dai Greene are poles apart in terms of experience but both bagged bronze medals to strengthen Britain's hold on a top three place.

A time of 49.48 seconds was enough for Greene to finish third on his first 400m hurdles outing in five years.

By contrast Dobbin ran 22.95s on senior debut in the 200 metres, having only burst onto the scene in June when she broke the 34-year-old Scottish national record.

"The crowd were amazing, almost overwhelming, but I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be when I set foot in the stadium," said Dobbin.

"It was the first time this year I've felt within reach of first and second, but it's great because that's where I want to be in the future."

Elsewhere, a gutsy effort from Neil Gourley in the 1500m saw the Glaswegian cling onto the leaders throughout a slow race, earning six points after finishing third with a time of 3:53.24.

Sportsbeat 2018