Athletics: Outsider looks value in Russia's 800m threesome.

Byline: Steven Downes 

TWO years on from Kelly Holmes' thrilling, and stunning, Olympic victory at 800 metres, Britain again has a woman two-lap runner who can compete with the best in the world in Rebecca Lyne, writes Steven Downes.

But the 24-year-old from Sheffield - where she is a member of the same athletics club as Sebastian Coe - is competing in her first international championship at this level, and despite an enticing 14-1 offer from Ladbrokes it might be too much to expect her to claim gold.

Lined up against her is a formidable trio of Russians, any one of whom could run out the winner - SVETLANA KLYUKA, Svetlana Cherkasova and favourite Olga Kotlyarova. On the basis of backing the outsider of three, Klyuka's 4-1 odds with Ladbrokes looks most appealing.

In the women's triple jump, your choice is a lot more clearcut: 1-3 shot Tatyana Lebedeva has surpassed 15 metres in four competitions already this summer, putting her almost a foot clear of the field. She cannot be opposed.

No Italian man has ever won a jumping event at the European Championships but in Andrew Howe, an American-born 21-year-old and the World Junior champion, Italy believes it has discovered the answer to its search.

And so do many punters, with Howe the evens favourite to take gold after today's qualifying round.

Howe's challenges are likely to come from among the two Ukrainians, Oleksiy Lukashevych and Viktor Kuznetsov, the world junior record holder at a generous looking 20-1

British teenager, Greg Rutherford, whose 8.26m jump in Manchester last month ranks him second among Europeans this season, is rated at 9-1.

The men's javelin is guaranteed to celebrate its first new European champion since 1990, Steve Backley having reigned uninterrupted since the championships were staged in Split 16 years ago.

His successor looks likely to be a Scandinavian. Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway heads the rankings with his 91.59m throw in Oslo in June, with TERO PITKAMAKI from Finland seemingly his biggest threat on form, having thrown 91.11m this season.

With the Norwegian offered at 10-11 and the Finn at 5-4, Pitkamaki is the one to back.

In the women's 10,000m, which has a straight final, Elvan Abeylegesse, the Ethiopian-born Turk, is another unopposable favourite, where she is best priced at evens. If you are seeking value, then backing the Turk to achieve the 5,000 and 10,000 double might be the option.

Recommendations

S Klyuka (800m)

2pts 4-1 Ladbrokes

T Pitkamaki (javelin)

2pts 5-4 Paddy Power