• World Indoor Athletics Championships

Ennis sets sights on world record

ESPN staff
March 8, 2012
Jessica Ennis is looking to defend her world indoor title in Turkey © PA Photos
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Jessica Ennis believes she may have to break the pentathlon world record if she is to defend her world indoor title in Istanbul.

Ahead of London 2012 this summer, Ennis has the chance to claim a major confidence boost at the Indoor World Championships in Turkey on Friday, where she will bid to fend off the likes of Tatyana Chernova and Nataliya Dobrynska to defend the pentathlon title she won in Qatar two years ago.

Ennis' personal best is 4937 points, but she could become the first woman to break the 5000-barrier, and in doing so, break Irina Belova's 20-year record.

With world heptathlon champion Chernova, who pipped Ennis to silver in Daegu last year, and Olympic champion Dobrynska in action, Ennis is expecting a close fight in Istanbul and predicts the 800m - the fifth and final event - to determine the medals.

"It could well take close to the world record. I was really close last time. I definitely think it's going to need me to break my personal best," Ennis told The Times. "It will probably come down to the 800 metres."

While she admits she is keen to get one over on Chernova, Ennis insists she cannot afford to worry about her rivals.

"[Chernova] had a great year and has had a great start to this one, boosted by the confidence she got, but I don't think you can write off Dobrynska either," Ennis said. "I would never have said she'd have gone to the Olympics in 2008 and won, but she did. She has a knack of turning it on. But you can't worry about anyone else."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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