KJT eyes her treble chance
KATARINA JOHNSON-Thompson delivered the performance of her life to stay on track for a golden hat-trick.
The Liverpool heptathlete had not previously been able to stand the heat on the global stage.
But on a day which brought 200m silver for Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and pole vault bronze for Holly Bradshaw, she was the coolest Kat in town.
Attacking the competition as never before, Johnson-Thompson stunned Olympic and world champion Nafi Thiam by storming into an 87-point overnight lead.
“I was aware the competition had got a lot stronger and that I needed to up my game – but also not to be afraid of anybody,” she said after amassing her best ever first-day score.
“So I just went on the attack and it paid off.”
She had repeatedly fallen short on the championship stage before beating relatively modest fields to win both the World Indoors and Commonwealth Games earlier this year. That put a spring in her step but this was the real test – and she knew it.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect at this competition or what would happen,” said the 25-year-old after following a season’s best 13.34secs in the hurdles with a 1.91m leap in the high jump and a throw of 13.09m in the shot put.
But after closing with a championship record 22.83 in the 200m nobody needs tell her she is in serious medal contention. “I’m definitely not going to give up easily,” she smiled as she looked ahead to today’s long jump, javelin and 800m.
“I’ll give a tough battle back for sure. I’m here to try and win.”
Mitchell-Blake felt the same way going into his 200m final and could not mask his disappointment after being beaten into second place by Turkey’s world champion Ramil Guliyev. “I didn’t win, I’m sorry guys,” said the 24-year-old, who clocked a season’s best 20.04.
“I love competing, I’m a sore loser but it’s my first piece of senior silverware and the season is not over.”
No such regrets for Bradshaw after clearing 4.75m to claim the first outdoor medal of her career. She said: “I’ve had so many fourth and fifth placings and to come away with my first outdoor medal is brilliant.
“It’s the first time my parents have come to an overseas competition and now they will have to come to every one!”
Meanwhile, Lynsey Sharp is pinning her faith on mental toughness winning her a second European 800m crown today. The feisty Scot has overcome all manner of adversity to earn a chance to add to her 2012 title – and this time fully intends to be crowned champion on the track rather than on social media.
“My medal from 2012 was upgraded and I found out a year later on Twitter,” she said. “My aim here is to get gold on the day and have that moment.”