BIRMINGHAM, March 4: Gold medals for Britain's Phillips Idowu and Nicola Sanders put the hosts on top of the medal table at the European indoor championships on Saturday.

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou was booed by some spectators in the National Indoor Arena as she lined up for the semi-finals of the 60 metres.

Thanou, 32, making her international comeback after a two-year suspension for doping violations, clocked 7.22 seconds behind defending champion Kim Gevaert of Belgium, who won in a world leading time of 7.10.

Britain's Jason Gardener remained on course for a fourth successive men's title, running 6.58 to beat European indoor record holder and fellow medal favourite Ronald Pognon of France in the men's semis.

Idowu won an enthralling triple jump competition that did not suffer for the absence of injured Olympic champion Christian Olsson.

Nursing a bruised heel, Idowu sprang out to a championship record 17.56 metres — the best in the world this year.

Sanders made sure the wait for Britain's second gold was not long, attacking from the gun to win the 400 metres in a national record time of 50.02.

A huge cheer was reserved for Ireland's David Gillick who retained his men's title, overtaking Germany's Bastian Swillims in the final 50 metres.

Belgian Tia Hellebaut added the European indoor high jump title to her outdoor crown and then went on to set a championship best and world leading height of 2.05 metres.

Cosimo Caliandro went one better than compatriot Di Matrino, seeing off race favourite Bouabdellah Tahri of France for gold in the men's 3,000 metres.

Lidia Chojecka became Poland's first female European indoor champion at 1,500 metres and the 30-year-old could add a second gold medal when she defends her 3,000 crown.

Danny Ecker won pole vault gold for Germany with a height of 5.71 metres on countback from Ukraine's Denys Yurchenko and compatriot Bjoern Otto. —Reuters