GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie won a third European indoor polevault title Sunday, but was furious that a mighty 6.07m attempt was ruled out over a technical hitch. The Frenchman took gold with 6.01m before successfully clearing 6.07m on his third and final attempt which would have made him the second highest vaulter in history behind the legendary Sergei Bubka. But officials ruled his attempt was invalid as the bar, which he had touched, did not fall despite it having bounced out of its peg-holding position. A furious Lavillenie kicked out at the advertising hoardings and launched an angry tirade against the judges before collapsing to the floor. After a tense few moments, the French athlete reluctantly accepted the decision and celebrated his victory, achieved ahead of German duo, Bjorn Otto, who recorded 5.76m, and Malte Mohr, 5.76m. Earlier, British hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton continued to impress on the flat with a commanding gold medal run over 400m. The 24-year-old powered home in a personal best 50.85sec, which was also the fastest time in the world this year. The silver medal also went to Britain with Eilidh Child more than half a second slower with Sweden's Moa Hjelmer finishing strongly to take the bronze. The men's 800m was won by defending champion Adam Kszczot of Poland in a time of 1:48.69, with silver going to Spain's Kevin Lopez (1:49.31) and the bronze to rising British star Mukhtar Mohammed in 1:49.60. There was an upset in the women's 800m where, on the final lap, Ukraine's Nataliya Lupu burst clear of strong favorite Yelena Kotulskaya of Russia, with Marina Arzamasova of Belarus in third. Elsewhere, Ukraine's Olha Saladuha won the women's triple jump with 14.88m, Russia's Aleksandr Menkov took the long jump gold thanks to a leap of 8.31m and Dutchman Eelco Sintnicolaas claimed the heptathlon crown with 6,372 points. Wariner, Whiting win US titles In New Mexico, three-time Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner and reigning world indoor shot put champion Ryan Whiting won landmark titles Sunday at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships. Athens Olympic 400-meter winner Wariner, a five-time world champion and two-time Olympic relay title-holder competing in the US Indoors for the first time, won the 400 in 45.82 seconds, .72 ahead of runner-up Marcus Boyd. Wariner's chief rival, Bershawn Jackson, failed to finish the race. He was the 2005 world champion and third in the 400 hurdles at the 2008 Olympics. Whiting's winning effort of 21.80m, .87 ahead of runner-up Cory Martin, was the best indoor shot put performance in the world this year. D'Angelo Cherry just missed matching the fastest 60-meter time in the world this year with a victory in 6.49 seconds, .05 ahead of runner-up Reggie Dixon. France's Jimmy Vicaut won the European indoor 60m title Saturday in a season's world best 6.48 with Britain's James Dasaolu second in the same time. Olympic long jump bronze medalist Janay DeLoach Soukup, who won her third consecutive US Indoor title on Saturday, was third Sunday in the 60m hurdles. — Agencies
