Johnson Thompson wins first global gold

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first global title after winning the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships – and targeted a golden hat-trick.

The 25-year-old finished 50 points ahead of Austria’s Ivona Dadic and 113 in front of Cuba’s Yorgelis Rodriguez to take victory with 4,750 points.

It ended a series of heptathlon disappointments after she finished fifth at last year’s World Championships in London, sixth at the Rio Olympics and 28th at the World Championships in 2015.

Johnson-Thompson is also due to compete in the Commonwealth Games next month and the European Championships in Berlin in August and is eager for more glory.

She said: “I said to myself I wanted two golds and one other medal but I would love three golds. If I can that would be great.

“That is what I am hoping. I am so happy. I have a busy year and this gives me confidence and belief going to the Commonwealth Games that I can compete at a certain level and come away with a medal and not screw it up.

“It means the world. It is something I have been trying to do since 2012 when I stepped into the international scene. I was disappointed last year I wasn’t able to do it outdoors.

“After the last couple of years I have had there was no pressure on me because I have not done too well.

“I am just happy that I can kick start this year as a gold medallist.”

She had not claimed a major medal since winning pentathlon gold at the European Indoor Championships in 2015.

Johnson-Thompson’s triumph was also Great Britain’s first World Indoor gold since 2014 when Richard Kilty took the 60m title.

Earlier, Asha Philip missed out on the women’s 60m final – Murielle Ahouré, of the Ivory Coast, blasting her way out of the blocks to clock a personal best 6.97 seconds, sixth fastest of all-time – but Elliot Giles did manage to reach the 800m final.

Cuba’s Juan Miguel Echevarría claimed gold in the men’s long jump with a 2018 world lead 8.46m, while Anita Márton of Hungary won the women’s shot with a personal best and world lead of 19.62m

Grenada’s Bralon Taplin fronted an historic first in the men’s 400m heats winning his race in 46.37 seconds – the fastest time in the world this year.

However, all athletes in the heat were later disqualified after Qatar’s Abdalleleh Haroun was ruled out for a false start before the four other athletes ran out of their lane. The disqualification of a full field has never happened before in athletics.