Edwards backs Idowu to follow up with Beijing gold

9:16am Monday 10th March 2008

TRIPLE JUMPER Phillips Idowu smashed Jonathan Edwards' tenyear old British indoor record to ensure Team GB returned from the World Indoor Championships with a gold medal to declare.

Idowu had the gold all but sewn up in the second round when he hop, skipped and jumped himself to a distance of 17.75m.

It was 11cm further than Edwards' best indoor effort and the fifth furthest indoor distance of all time.

Rivals Arnie David Girat of Cuba and Portugal's Nelson Evora failed to improve on the 29- year-old's effort as Idowu added gold to the silvers won by Kelly Sotherton, Jeannette Kwakye, Dwain Chambers and Chris Tomlinson.

Edwards - who was among the crowd at the Luis Puig velodrome - believes the Londoner has the ability to follow in his footsteps and win Olympic gold this summer.

"There is no reason why he can't win gold in Beijing," said the former World, European, Commonwealth and Olympic champion.

"I don't see anyone out there who can jump further and now he has the confidence to go with his talent he could do it."

Despite Commonwealth and European Indoor titles, Idowu has failed to deliver at the very top level - until now.

But the Belgrave Harrier with the fire-red hair denied he was now the Olympic favourite.

"I think there are a few out there who haven't been in Spain that will consider themselves favourites," said Idowu.

"I like to keep myself in the background until it is the right time, as I have done here.

"It is nice to win and I was always confident I could do it. I knew I had a big jump in me as I felt confident and I produced it at the right time."

Meanwhile, Mo Farah conceded his hopes of an Olympic medal in Beijing are slim after an African one, two, and three in the men's 3000m.

Farah, who will celebrate his 25th birthday this month, was the top European finishing sixth in a time of 7.55.08 minutes.

And while he will switch to his preferred 5000m in China, the European silver medallist knows he will have his work cut out to close the gap on the African contingent.

Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia won gold with his compatriot Abreham Cherkos finishing third and Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech taking silver.

Farah said: "These guys are different class and you need to mix it with the guys and train hard.

"To tell the truth I still have quite a long way to go to catch the top guys."

Wigan's Jenny Meadows couldn't hide her disappointment, despite finishing fifth in the 800m final.

The 26-year-old lost the tactical battle in a race where 2.02 minutes proved enough for gold.

She said: "I'm devastated to come fifth.

"I really wanted to get on that rostrum and I didn't even want the minor medal. I wanted silver or gold."

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