| Returning from maternity, the former champion Ennis-Hill showed her competitive spirit on the first day, edging world leader Theisen-Eaton in every event. Her biggest rival appeared to be her compatriot Johnson-Thompson who went from ninth to second with her win in the 200m. Overnight, the leading standings were Ennis-Hill (4005), Johnson-Thompson (3925), Visser (3871) and Theisen-Eaton (3865). Two of those contenders fell away in the long jump. Visser managed only 6.14, while Johnson-Thompson suffered the calamity of three no-jumps. With a best of 6.93 she had been quite capable of overtaking Ennis-Hill but in Bejiing was successively over the board by margins of 5.1cm, 6.2cm and (for a jump estimated to be 6.82), a galling 1mm! Ennis-Hill managed respectable efforts in both the long jump and javelin to hold an impregnable lead by 86 points or 5.5 seconds before the 800m. Javelin throws in the 53s lifted Broesen and IkaunieceAdmidi a to second and fourth respectively and meant that pair would run for the bronze medal. Ennis-Hill and Theisen-Eaton were better 800m runners and the Canadian proved that with her quick pace in the final heat (30.11, 62.83, 1:36.31). Ennis-Hill came through to win that race and a second world title. Two heptathlon golds became three when Tatyana Chernova’s disqualification from 2011 was confirmed. |
