Protection beneath the mask spurs Tiff

TIFFANY PORTER is aiming to become the first athlete to win an international title wearing a face mask today.

The US-born Brit, on the comeback trail after becoming a mum, qualified safely out of her

60 metres hurdles heat in Poland yesterday.

And her progress turned out to be very safe – Porter, who combines a track career with being a chemist, wore a mask.

“It’s not a big deal, I train every day in a mask so it’s part of my normal,” she said after clocking

8.04secs. “It’s an added level of protection for me. It makes me feel a bit more comfortable and nobody has said anything to me about it.

“It’s a personal decision I have made. But it is important to get that message out that wearing a mask is still important.” Porter, 33, is a former European champion and a World medalist but her last medal in a British vest came five years ago. Her sister Cindy Sember qualified even more impressively in the same event, in 7.99secs – having fought back from a serious injury.

And with world champion Andrew Pozzi safely through in the men’s competition, Britain has high hurdling hopes this evening.

Holly Bradshaw (above) saw her gold medal hopes crumble in the women’s pole vault after failing to clear 4.70m.

“I’m disappointed, it was my lowest all season,” she said after claiming joint-bronze with 4.65m.

GB team captain Jodie Williams set a personal best of 51.73secs to win bronze in the women’s

400m final.

Holly Archer was reinstated to silver in the women’s 1,500m final on appeal, having initially been disqualified for jostling.

All three of Britain’s women

800m runners qualified for today’s final including teenage sensation Keely Hodgkinson.

“I’m ready to give it my all,” said Hodgkinson, 19. Isabelle Boffey and Ellie Baker also progressed while in the men’s

800m, Jamie Webb secured a final spot.

And Andrew Butchart and Jack Rowe are through in the men’s 3,000m.