Sebrle overcame an average 100m to take the overall lead

Russia's Olga Kotlyarova overhauled compatriot Svetlana Klyuka to win 800m gold while her compatriot Darya Pishchalnikova won the discus.

Reinging European champion Roman Sebrle had a clear lead in the decathlon after the first five disciplines.

Sebrle was on 4,420 points, 161 ahead of Aleksey Sysoyev and Aleksey Drozdov.

Highlights: Day four in Gothenburg

Sebrle swiftly moved into pole position after the rain-affected long jump.

The Czech soldier jumped a best of 7.72m, more than 20cm and 124pts clear of his nearest rival.

He faltered slightly in the shot put, recording 15.53m, but cleared 2.09m tin the high jump and followed that up with 49.11sec in the 400m.

Russia's Olga Zaytseva had sped into an early lead in the 400m final, but tied up badly to finish in the bronze medal position behind Stambolova and Veshkurova.

Britain's Nicola Sanders went hard over the first 200m and held on for sixth place in a time of 50.87 seconds.

Pishchalnikova's win in the discus was well-deserved, if a surprise - she produced a personal best throw of 65.55m to take the gold.

The 21-year-old's third-round effort relegated world champion Franka Dietzsch to silver with 64.35m while Romania's Nicoleta Grasu took bronze with her opening throw of 63.58m.

Earlier in the day, unheralded Yohan Diniz of France sprang a surprise to win the men's 50km walk.

Diniz knocked three and a half minutes off his personal best in completing the course around the streets of Gothenburg in three hours 41 minutes 39 seconds.

Diniz, 27, took the lead with two laps of the course remaining, cruising past long-time leader Trond Nymark.

Spain's Jesus Angel Garcia came through late for silver with Russia's Yuriy Andronov taking the bronze.

Diniz's performance handed the French team its third gold medal after Mehdi Baala and Marc Raquil won the 1500m and 400m on Wednesday.