Gardener on stand-by to race away from sprint

Jason Gardener's fastest sprint this weekend may not be his bid to win a fourth European indoor 60metre title. Instead, it could be to his wife's bedside.

Nancy Gardener is expecting the couple's second child, a boy, today and dad wants to be there when she gives birth.

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The British team have a chauffeur on stand-by to drive Gardener the 100 miles from the NIA in Birmingham, where he starts the defence of his title on Saturday morning, to a hospital in Bath.

Their first child, Molly, three next month, arrived two weeks late after a two-day labour. So the Gardeners were confident enough for him to travel to the event on Wednesday to begin his preparations.

Gardener said: "I've told her not to eat spicy food, to lie down, not move around and to keep her legs crossed. But the baby's already low down, so it shouldn't be long.

"I can't think too much about it. I have to concentrate on the job in hand. But every time her number comes up on my mobile I get anxious."

At 31, Gardener would become the oldest man to win the title. Training partner Craig Pickering, 20, Europe's fastest man this winter, would beat 1972 Olympic champion Valeri Borzov's record as the youngest if he wins.