• World Athletics Championships

Ennis recovers from slow start to lead heptathlon

ESPN staff
August 29, 2011
Jessica Ennis failed to clear 1.89m in the high jump © Getty Images
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Jessica Ennis bounced back from a sluggish start to the defence of her heptathlon title to take the lead at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea.

Ennis, bidding to become the first British athlete to successfully defend a world title, found herself second after the morning session in Daegu, but recovered to amass 4078 points, her second best first-day total.

American Hyleas Fountain condemned Ennis to her first hurdles defeat since 2006, and the Briton's high jump offering of 1.86m was also some way off her personal best, to leave her 41 points behind Fountain after two events.

However, Ennis produced a lifetime best throw of 14.67m in the shot put to propel her into the lead, before clocking 23.28 seconds in the 200m to extend her advantage to end the first day 151 points clear of nearest rival Tatyana Chernova.

"Normally I lead from the start but I had to work really hard to get that lead," Ennis said. "I had to channel the frustration into the next event and thankfully I threw a PB and got some points back. I want to relax, get a good sleep and come back strong."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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