Evora pips Idowu to triple jump gold medal

Idowu produced his best jump of the year to lead with 17.62 metres after the third round, only to see Portugal's Nelson Evora then leap 17.67m in the next round.

Matching his personal best of 17.68m would have given Idowu gold, but the 29-year-old Londoner was unable to improve in the final two rounds and he had to settle for silver. Leevan Sands of the Bahamas claimed bronze with 17.59m, while Britain's Larry Achike was seventh.

Idowu's misfortune rounded off a miserable night for the British team, with the defending champion 4x100 metres relay team disqualified from the semi-finals.

The British quartet of Simeon Williamson, Tyrone Edgar, Marlon Devonish and Craig Pickering finished second behind Jamaica in 38.71 seconds, but botched the final changeover.

Pickering went off way too early on the final leg and he only received the baton from Devonish after running outside the changeover box at the top of the home straight.

"I feel like I've let the team down and the country down," admitted Pickering. "Unfortunately, for the next four years, I am going to be remembered as the guy who messed up."

Devonish, the only member of the victorious team from Athens, added: "We're bitterly disappointed, totally gutted.

"There's been a lot of expectation on this team. We didn't come here to play games, but it's a team event and we all take full responsibility. There are no excuses.

"I'm not sure if I didn't go quick enough or if Craig went early. Everything happens so quickly in the relay."

The US, runners-up to Britain in Athens four years ago, also crashed out after Darvis Patton and Tyson Gay dropped the baton on the final changeover in the opening semi-final, leaving Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica to battle for gold.

World champion Gay, who failed to make the final of the individual 100m, said: "The stick was in my hand, but, when I went to grab it, he had already let go. It takes a second to feel it.

"It is probably my fault. I am going to take the blame for it. I have never dropped a stick in my life. It is just the way it has been happening for me this year."

There was more misery for the US in the women's relay when they again dropped the baton on the final changeover, with Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams this time the guilty duo.

Belgium won the first semi-final in 42.92 seconds ahead of the British quartet of 100m individual finalist Jeanette Kwakye, Montell Douglas, Emily Freeman and Emma Ania.

Kwakye said: "We played it safe and there is a lot more to come from the team and I'm pretty sure we can win a medal. It is the best team since the 1980s and we are ready."

Jamaica cruised to victory in the second semi-final, with Veronica Campbell-Brown running the anchor leg 90 minutes after successfully defending her 200m title.

Britain's Goldie Sayers had earlier narrowly missed out on a medal in the women's javelin final, the 26-year-old finishing fourth, just 0.38m behind bronze medallist Christina Obergfoll of Germany.

Elsewhere, there was joy for Cuba as world record holder Dayron Robles stormed to victory in the men's 110m hurdles. He led from the start and finished in a time of 12.93 seconds.

US runners David Payne and David Oliver took silver and bronze but trailed in the Cuban's wake.