British stars advance

Defending champion Malcolm won his semi-final

Britain's Colin Jackson qualified for the semi-finals of the 60 metres hurdles in the fastest time of Friday's heats at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna.

The 35-year-old Welshman, who is aiming for his third European Indoors title, was a comfortable winner of the fourth heat in 7.55 seconds.

Defending champion Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia was the second fastest qualifier, winning his heat in 7.61 seconds.

"I'm very pleased with my performance in the heats. I went very fast for the first hurdle as we had planned and it turned out just fine," said Jackson.

There is always pressure when qualifying as you only get the three jumps to get it right

Ashia Hansen

Meanwhile, Britain's Ashia Hansen cruised into the triple jump final with her first qualifying jump.

The world indoor record-holder was the first competitor to clear the qualifying distance of 14.10 metres, with a jump of 14.30 metres.

And the 30-year-old was the only contestant to achieve the qualifier in the first round.

Afterwards Hansen said: "I was very nervous. There is always pressure when qualifying as you only get the three jumps to get it right.

"Now I've done 14.30 metres and it was relatively easy.

"Really I'm just coming back after almost two years of constant injury. Even if I don't win. I see this as a stepping stone.

"It all seems new to me after two years of injury and really I'm only brushing away the cobwebs."

Event favourite and Olympic champion Tereza Marinova made the biggest jump of the day with a leap of 14.42 metres on her second attempt.

Russia's Yelena Oleynikova joined Hansen and Marinova in the final after clearing 14.27 metres.