• World Indoor Athletics Championships

Ennis settles for silver as Dobrynska breaks world record

Jessica Ennis was left to rue a disappointing performance in the long jump © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: I'm no longer favourite for gold in London - Ennis
  
• News: GB's relay gold reverts to silver on thrilling final day
  
• News: Aldama grabs gold as Brits impress in Turkey
  
• News: Gatlin guns down Chambers
  
• News: Devastated Ennis vows to turn silver into gold
  
• News: Ennis throws shot PB to hold lead
  
• Profile: Jessica Ennis-Hill

Jessica Ennis suffered a major setback in her preparations for London 2012 as she failed to defend her pentathlon title at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Turkey.

Ennis, who was forced to settle for silver in Daegu last year, came up short once again as she finished second best in Istanbul, albeit to a world-record breaking performance by Natallia Dobrynska.

Having thrown a new personal best in the shot put to sit in the gold medal position after the opening three events, Ennis slipped to third place following a disappointing long jump performance.

Ennis needed to beat Olympic champion Dobrynska by 6.5 seconds in the 800m, but despite a brave effort winning the final event, was forced to settle for silver as the Ukrainian set a new world record of 5013.

Ultimately, Ennis was left to rue a disappointing performance in the long jump which saw her surrender the gold medal position, which she had held since the opening event after a dominant display in the 60m hurdles.

Ennis kicked off the long jump with a solid opening leap of 6.19m, but failed to improve on it with a second jump of 6.18m before posting a no-jump on her final attempt. Having set a new personal best of 6.47m in Birmingham last month, it was a disappointing display from the Brit, who picked up just 908 points.

In contrast, Dobrynska produced a season's best leap of 6.57m to snatch the lead after amassing 1030 points, while Austra Skujyte moved into the silver medal position with an opening attempt of 6.24m

Ennis trailed Dobrynska by 93 points heading into the final event, with Lithuanian Skujyte six points ahead in the silver medal position. Knowing victory may not be enough to win gold, Ennis kicked on the final lap, producing a lifetime best and national record of 2:08.09, but it was not enough as the Ukrainian also ran a personal best to cross in 2:11.15 and become the first woman to break the 5000-point barrier.

Ennis' points total of 4965 points is a new British record, while Skujyte ran a personal best in the 800m to hang on for bronze. World heptathlon champion Tatyana Chernova, widely tipped to be Ennis' biggest threat, could only manage fifth behind Poland's Karolina Tyminska.

Tiffany Porter won her 60m hurdles heat © Getty Images

Enlarge

Two-time European indoor 3000m champion Mo Farah took a step closer to adding world indoor gold to his collection, but was made to work hard for a place in Sunday's final. Farah finished second in his heat behind Kenya's Augustine Kiprono Choge, crossing in a time of 7:57.59.

Tiffany Porter put in a captain's performance to book her place in the final of the 60m hurdles as the fastest qualifier. American-born Porter, who previously represented USA before switching allegiance to Great Britain in 2010, was a controversial choice as team captain in Istanbul, but she went some way to silence her critics, winning her heat in 8.00 seconds.

Defending 60m champion Dwain Chambers laid down a statement of intent as he cruised into the semi-finals with a dominant performance in the heats. Despite much controversy surrounding the start - many athletes claiming they could not hear the starter's gun - Chambers clocked 6.65 seconds in the final heat to book his place in Saturday's semi-finals as third fastest qualifier behind Spaniard Angel David Rodriguez and former Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin.

Yamile Aldama needed a single leap to book her place in the triple jump final, jumping a season's best 14.62m on her first attempt to advance as top qualifier.

Joe Thomas won his 800m heat to progress, while Andrew Osagie advanced as a fastest loser, but Marilyn Okoro bowed out in the women's 800m heats, while Lewis Moses and James Brewer failed to make it out of the 1500m heats.

European indoor 3000m champion Helen Clitheroe qualified for the 3000m final as fastest loser in 9.02:27, while Shana Cox made it through to the 400m final, but Nadine Okyere failed to progress past the semi-finals.

There was disappointment in the men's 400m as Richard Buck and Nigel Levine both failed to reach the final after both finished third in their respective semi-finals.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.