Bekele sets two-mile world record

Bekele added to his collection of notable landmarks in Birmingham

Kenenisa Bekele set a new world record for the two miles at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday.

The Ethiopian took 0.34 off the mark of eight minutes 04.69 seconds run by countryman Haile Gebrselassie at the same National Indoor Arena in 2003.

In the 60m, Britain's Simeon Williamson added to his claims to be selected for the World Indoor Championships.

He set a personal best of 6.57 seconds in coming second in a photo finish to Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndurea.

Highlights: Sotherton v Kluft

Replay: Williamson edged out in 60m

Williamson, who has backed Dwain Chambers inclusion in the Great Britain squad insisted: "I can't make them pick me. I'm in the best form of my life.

"I only hope I have done enough to make the team for Valencia. I've run a personal best and I can't do much more."

Bekele, the world and Olympic 10,000m champion, had announced his intention to attack the indoor world record before the race.

"I'm very pleased. It's incredible for me," he told the BBC.

Elsewhere, Kelly Sotherton recorded her fastest-ever 60m hurdles time of 8.17 seconds, slicing two hundredths of a second from her previous best.

Despite also setting the fastest 400m time by a British woman this year with a 52.47 run, the Briton had to settle for second place, 18 points behind Sweden's Carolina Kluft in a three-event challenge.

She said afterwards: "The long jump let me down - if it wasn't for that I could have won the challenge."

Joice Maduaka just held on to beat off the challenge of fellow Brit Christine Ohuruogu over 200m.

Maduaka won by just 0.04 seconds ahead of the 400m outdoor world champion, who was making her only appearance of the indoor season.

Jeanette Kwakye could not match the time she set in her heat as she finished third in the 60m final.

Kwakye became the country's second-fastest 60m performer with a heat time of 7.16 seconds, but was 0.04 slower in the final behind Angela Williams of the United States.

Sweden's Susanna Kallur, who set a world record of 7.68 seconds for the women's 60m hurdles last week, easily won the event in Birmingham with a time of 7.75.

In the men's 400m, Canadian Tyler Christopher cruised to victory in 45.80 seconds, while American David Oliver won the men's 60m hurdles in 7.55.

Phillips Idowu rounded off the action by winning the triple jump with a leap of 17.21m.

The Commonwealth champion made four jumps of more than 17m as he easily defeated Slovakia's Dmitrij Valukevic and Kenta Bell from the USA, and believes he's on course for success at the World Indoor Championships.

"Another week, another win, that's the way it should be," he said. "I'll need a bit more for Valencia, but that's fine, there's more to come."