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Athletics

Brave Sotherton wins silver

02/03/2007

Britain's Kelly Sotherton was narrowly edged out by defending champion Carolina Kluft in the pentathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Swedish star Kluft won gold after Sotherton failed to beat her by 1.6 seconds in the 800m.

Despite a valiant effort by Sotherton, Kluft stayed close to her to finish on 4,944 points and maintain her five-year unbeaten record in multi-discipline events.

Sotherton, an Olympic bronze medallist in the heptathlon, set a new British and Commonwealth record with a personal best of 4,927 points.

Holland's Karin Ruckstuhl took third while rising British star Jessica Ennis finished in sixth place with a personal best of 4,716 points.

Sotherton, 30, said she was delighted with achieving her personal best.

"I worked my guts off and pushed Carolina all the way," Sotherton told the BBC.

"Everyone raised their games, there were so many personal bests out there.

"Having such a close competition makes things more interesting for everyone, especially going into the outdoor season."

Kluft was 24 points clear of Sotherton going into the final event after a season's best of 6.59m in the long jump.

But Sotherton fought back with personal bests in the high jump and shot put to lead after three events but was unable to prevent a Kluft onslaught.

Elsewhere, Sweden's Susanna Kallur clocked 7.86 seconds to win the 60m hurdles with Britain's Sara McGreavy finishing in fifth in 8.04 seconds.

Nicola Sanders comfortably won her 400m semi-final in 51.06 seconds to reach Saturday's final.

But Emma Duck crashed out in the semi finals after finishing fifth in a time of 53.02 seconds.

The championships had been held up after British 800m runner Karen Harewood suffered a suspected broken leg after being clipped on her ankles by Russian Mariya Shapayeva in the second heat.

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