Lifetime bests put KJT in pole position

IF THE winner of the heptathlon at these World Championships was meant to be a foregone conclusion, then evidently Katarina Johnson-Thompson didn’t get the memo. After an exceptional opening day, in which she recorded her highest tally for four events, she has taken the battle to Nafi Thiam. KJT’s haul of 4,138 points puts her 96 clear of the Olympic champion from Belgium. That is not unusual — the configuration of this event is such that the Briton, below, usually has the best of day one. So while Thiam will still be the favourite for gold today, she might just have cause for concern after JohnsonThompson’s performance, which featured two huge personal bests. The first came in the opening discipline, the 100m hurdles, when she sliced 0.2sec off her

best time with 13.09sec. That was followed with a strong 1.95m clearance in the high jump. By this stage, KJT was leading but was expected to haemorrhage points in the shot put. With two woeful throws reaching only 12.38m, that prediction was playing out until she launched one to 13.86m — a personal best by 71cm. She ended her day with 23.09sec in the 200m, to lead when Thiam was well short of her best. With a first global outdoor medal at stake today, JohnsonThompson (below) said: ‘It’s really important to end the day on top. I have to negotiate three events, including another throw. But to end up on top despite not my best 200 means I have something to work on.’ Laura Muir qualified for the 1500m semi-final in a comfortable return to racing after two months out with a calf tear, the Scotswoman running 4min 07.37sec. In an intriguing twist, Muir may find herself up against Sifan Hassan, whose coach Alberto Salazar was sent away in disgrace on Tuesday after a doping ban. ‘At this point all I can do is focus on myself — that’s all I’m in control of,’ Muir said. ‘I’m the only person I can vouch for.’