Welsh sprinter Tim Benjamin could become a much-needed ray of sunshine for a gloomy British team in Finland.

Torrential rain and fork lightning, an occupational hazard for cricketers rather than athletes, sent competitors scrambling for cover last night, delaying action for two hours.

More bad weather is forecast for this morning but Benjamin had every right to feel in a sunny mood yesterday.

He enhanced his growing reputation with a storming run in his 400m heat - recording his second fastest time ever.

The Cardiff-based one-lapper, who broke through the 45-second barrier when beating Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner in 44.75 last month, won his heat in 44.85 to advance as the fastest qualifier.

"I'm really pleased," said Benjamin, who spent most of March in hospital after a pain-killing injection in his back went wrong.

"I feel in the shape of my life and I want to maximise it. I'm supremely confident at the moment and I'm just looking forward to the next couple of days."

However, he'll need to find another new gear in his semi-final. Only the top two, plus the two next fastest times, advance and Benjamin faces a tough draw.

He is pitted against American Darold Williamson, a former world junior champion, and Congo's Gary Kikaya - both have faster times than him this season.

Kelly Sotherton produced the long jump performance she was looking for yesterday - just 48 hours too late. Sotherton made amends for her disappointing fifth place in the heptathlon to qualify for tonight's final.

Despite difficult blustery conditions, Sotherton leapt 6.55m to qualify in ninth - 14cm more than she jumped on Sunday.

"If only I'd done that in the heptathlon I might have given myself a better chance of a medal," said Sotherton.

"But I'm really pleased. It's my first major final and it's made up for some of the disappointment after the heptathlon.

"I was feeling pretty tired but I knew I had one good jump in me and thankfully, that was the case.

"I'd love to make the first cut in the final but I'm going to need to jump a personal best, over 6.65m will stand a chance of making it."

Fellow heptathlete Eunice Barber is also through after jumping 6.60m.

Sprint hurdler Sarah Claxton was on her blocks when the leaden skies opened and forced competitors to run for shelter rather than the finish line.

She returned to the track two hours later but her time of 13.17 was not good enough to qualify for the semi-finals.