JOHNSON-THOMPSON ACHIEVES OLYMPIC HEPTATHLON QUALIFIER IN CZECH REPUBLIC

 
Johnson-Thompson who has just got better and better since her success at Bressanone in the South Tyrol three years ago, achieved a tally of 6248 points when finishing runner up behind Eliska Klucinova at the TNT Fortuna meeting in Kladno.
 
Her score at the Czech Republic venue improved upon the 6007pt she notched up at the IAAF Combined Events meet in Desenzano in Italy six weeks ago which saw her relieve Jessica Ennis of her UK Under20 record.
 
Johnson-Thompson was the overnight leader after an excellent opening session on Saturday scoring  3729pts, holding a lead of 37pts from the host nation's national record holder Klucinová on a day where strong winds hampered the athletes.

"My goal is 6150 points, which is the Olympic standard, so I need to carry on tomorrow. I am enjoying competing here in Kladno, people are really nice here, cheering for us," said Johnson-Thompson before continuing her march towards the target in Sunday's final three events.
 
That determination saw the  19-year-old Liverpudlian in two days of intense action produce six new personal bests when rollercoasting to her 241pts career improvement with performances of 13.62sec in the 100m hurdles, 1.86m in the high jump, 11.83m in the shot put, 23.88sec in the 200m, 38.68m in the javelin and 2min 14.56sec in the 800m.

Ennis the 2012 World leader after her recent victory in Gotzis with a British record score of 6906pts and herself competing at the Bedford International Games,  acknowledged that she has an heir apparent who could be biting at her heels in the next couple of years.

"I'm sure she will be," said Ennis winner of the long jump with a distance of 6.40m and eighth in the javelin where she threw a satisfactory 46.34m.

“I’ve heard what Katarina has done. It’s absolutely brilliant," added Ennis. "I knew she’d do it. I think she’ll be better than me one day, she’s already beaten my junior record.

 

b"I think it's great that she's qualified for the Olympics. It'll be brilliant for her to go there. I'm sure she'll do really well. But I think it'll be in the next couple of years that she'll start getting closer and closer – I'll probably retire then."
 
Ennis of her day's competition, said: "I think it's been a great day. I was very happy to get a 6.40m in the long jump. I had a few no-jumps, but very happy with the way my jumping is going at the moment.