Johnson-Thompson boosts heptathlon medal hopesFigure caption, ‘She knows how to deliver’ – Johnson-Thompson in heptathlon high jumpByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalistPublished19 minutes agoGreat Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson boosted her medal chances at the European Athletics Championships with a strong high jump performance in Birmingham.Two-time world champion Johnson-Thompson has never won a European heptathlon title, taking silver in 2018 behind Belgian great Nafissatou Thiam.While three-time Olympic champion Thiam is absent, Johnson-Thompson’s own injury issues meant her form leading into the championships was unknown.The 33-year-old had competed just once – in the shot put at an event in Loughborough in May – since winning world bronze in Tokyo last September.
She will begin the second heptathlon session on Friday evening in 10th position, after climbing up the standings with a clearance over 1.83 metres in the high jump.
That performance, bettered only by leading pair Adrianna Sulek-Schubert of Poland and Ireland’s Kate O’Connor, followed a time of 14 seconds flat in the 100m hurdles which ranked 15th overall.
British team-mate Jade O’Dowda is close behind, in 12th, after following up a 13.21-second run in the 100m hurdles by clearing 1.71m in the high jump.
