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Katarina Johnson-Thompson got off to an excellent start in the women’s heptathlon at Paris 2024 as she sat in first place after the 100m hurdles and the high jump.
The reigning world champion, who has come to Paris nursing an ongoing tendonitis issue, set a season’s best of 13.40 seconds in the hurdles and then moved up from eighth place overall with a jump of 1.92 metres, also her best this year.
The high jump came down to a tense battle between Johnson-Thompson and the defending Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam, who was perfect until the bar was raised to 1.95 metres but then failed on all three attempts.
Johnson-Thompson, who had needed a couple of attempts to clear the bar at 1.86, 1.89 and 1.92 metres, pulled out of her first attempt before falling short on the next two.
It meant Johnson-Thompson leads with 2197 points after two events, with the Belgian Thiam on 2173.
American Anna Hall, the favourite, had looked off the pace in the hurdles, one of her stronger events, but a season’s best jump of 1.89 metres moved her up to third place overall with 2164.
Johnson-Thompson’s team-mate Jade O’Dowda sits in ninth after maxing out at 1.80 metres in the high jump with 2024 points.
The shot put and the 200m are the remaining events on day one of the women’s heptathlon at the Stade de France.
Great Britain advanced to the final of the women’s 4x100m as Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Desiree Henry held off a late charge from the French to win their heat.
Even without Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, expected to come in for the final, Team GB’s time of 42.03 seconds was second only to the United States, who won their heat in a time of 41.94 despite a poor handover between Twanisha Terry and Gabrielle Thomas at the mid-point of the race.
The men’s team were in a tighter battle as Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake finished third in their heat, running a season’s best 38.04 but beaten to second place by South Africa in a photo finish.
In a shock result in the second heat, Jamaica failed to advance after a series of poor changeovers left them in fourth place behind China, France and Canada.
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12:09 PM BST
Heptathlon standings, after two events
Johnson-Thompson leads. Her team-mate, Jade O’Dowda, is down in ninth with 2,024 points.
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Johnson-Thompson (GB) – 2,197pts
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Thiam (Bel) – 2,173
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Hall (US) – 2164
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Vidts (Bel) – 2125
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Dokter (Ned) – 2094
11:50 AM BST
KJT establishes morning lead
Thiam’s final attempt is very close! Her legs just clip it on the way through, KJT will have a morning lead ahead of her last jump…
…is a fail, but she matches Thiam in the Belgian’s strongest discipline.
She takes 1132 to take her total to 2197, leading 24 points from the double Olympic champion. USA’s Anna Hall is in third with 2164.
Britain’s Jade O’Dowda is down in ninth on 2024 having jumped 1.80m.
What a start for the Briton, with the long jump and 200m, her known specialities, still to come.
11:47 AM BST
Onto 1.95m
Thiam fails for the first time, it’s not a close call either which is encouraging for KJT.
KJT’s first attempt at 1.95m is abandoned as she gathers too much pace, but Thiam fails a second attempt.
KJT’s second attempt is the closest either have come – last jumps incoming…
11:44 AM BST
KJT clears 1.92m
What a jump! 39 extra points, Thiam reeled in, big celebration! It’s a provisional 24 point lead from Thiam.
Hall’s attempt is poor so it’s a two-horse race in the high jump now – a solid seasonal best showing from Anna Hall to put her in a provisional bronze after the first morning of action.
11:40 AM BST
Advantage Thiam
Thiam again makes it look easy as she goes over 1.92m. KJT’s shoulder brushes the bar on her first attempt so advantage Thiam – Hall also misses.
Her second attempt is even closer but still a miss, Hall also getting closer but failing.
11:39 AM BST
“Brilliant by KJT”
Brilliant by KJT. She has just gone over 1.89 on the high jump. She is enjoying herself this morning. Anna Hall has just done it too.
So the top three – Thiam, KJT, Hall – will now head for 1.92 to see if they kind find space between them.
11:35 AM BST
Thiam establishing lead
As expected in the high jump, Thiam is coasting, easing over 1.89m.
KJT follows her over first time though! That’s a big celebration, definitely a score she’ll be happy with as a marker – it can be improved upon too! Again an improvement on where she was at this point in her world championship win in Budapest last year.
Even bigger celebrations from Anna Hall as she clears it afterwards – these are the leading three as the Netherlands’ Sofie Doktor aborts her third attempt at 1.86m.
11:31 AM BST
KJT makes 1.86m
Great jump from the Briton, equalling her season’s best on a second attempt. That takes her past the 1000 point mark, USA’s Anna Hall follows suit shortly after.
Never mind Phil Foden, KJT is definitely on fire. At her second attempt, she has just cleared 1.86 at the high jump. It has been a very good morning so far in her hopes of securing gold.
11:29 AM BST
Final 800m repechage
USA’s Brandon Miller lining up in this despite consistent sub 1 minute 44 times – he’s favourite here.
And he leads from start to finish, pushed all the way by Algeria’s Mohamed Ali Gouaned and Norway’s Tobias Gronstad to a 1.44.22. It’s the fastest heat and all three will head through and race tomorrow for the semi final – their third race in as many days.
11:23 AM BST
Thiam making early statement
Thiam coasts over 1.86m with ease, only her second jump of the day, taking her over the 1000 point mark – she’s the only heptathlete to clear it thus far, KJT has failed it once.
Annik Kaelen of Poland was first in the 100m hurdles but can’t improve on a 1.74m jump.
11:20 AM BST
800m repechage race three
France’s Benjamin Robert is running in the third repechage, Joe Deng running for Australia in what must be one of the best kits on offer in Paris.
Robert leads for much of the race, but is out-sprinted by Italy’s Simone Barontini in a slower time than the second heat meaning Robert won’t be progressing as a fastest loser.
11:14 AM BST
800m repechage
Mexico’s Jesus Lopez coasts home but it’s a much quicker heat than the original preliminaries, as well as the first repechage so France’s Corentin le Clezio’s Olympics are over. Spain’s Adrian Ben and Belgium’s Pieter Sisk are now the current fastest losers, the former an accomplished runner who has twice got his race tactics wrong.
The repechage being faster than the original heats has been a continual theme this Olympics, but the runners who have progressed from them have struggled to go any further.
11:08 AM BST
KJT shows Olympic spirit
She’s one of the senior members of this hepathlon field and provided Chara Hawkins some comfort after her three failed jumps rules her out of a medal.
11:05 AM BST
800m repechages
The 800m repechages have begun, only one winner from each race progressing, as well as two fastest losers. Frenchman Corentin le Clezio.
He falls behind from the first lap though, and a sprint finish leaves him in third place behind Botswana’s automatic qualifier Kethobogile Haingura and Algeria’s Slimane Moula.
Le Clezio technically not ruled out yet, but it would take a miracle for him to proceed to the semis – Australian favourite Peter Bol also crashes out.
10:58 AM BST
Thiam and KJT jump well
Thiam is easily over her first high jump attempt of 1.80m – this is her strongest event, her PB of 2.02m would’ve been enough for gold in this year’s open high jump event.
KJT is next, and nails a 1.80 to boost her points score to 978 and 2043 overall.
10:54 AM BST
Sign of the times…
There is a sign of the times. In a discipline historically dominated by the USA and Jamaica (with occasional contributions from GB) China have just won the second heat of the 4×100 relay.
Admittedly their time of 38.24 was considerably slower than the British four’s 38.04 that gifted them third place in the other heat, but that was a significant run by the Chinese.
It is a suggestion it won’t be long before they are dominating Olympic sprinting in the manner they already do in diving and table tennis.
10:49 AM BST
4x100m heat 2 – Jamaica crash out!
Featuring Jamaica and France, as well as Canada being anchored Andre De Grasse…
And there are some terrible changeovers from the Jamaicans as France qualify alongside France and China! Jamaica finish fourth, changeover two took an age, and the third was perilously close to being dropped. It left them with too much to do and they finish fourth…
They fail to qualify!! Wow, disaster for Jamaica!
10:45 AM BST
KJT nails first jump
A simple start for KJT, easing over her 1.77m opener to secure a minimum of 941 points from the high jump. That’s the joint highest in the field, leaving her in a provisional fourth with room for immediate improvement.
10:43 AM BST
Phil Foden the key to a medal?
Great Britain’s men have joined their women in the final of the 4×100 relay. What a race that was, up against the Olympic champions Italy and USA, Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran brilliantly to post a season’s best 38.04 seconds.
On the line, they were beaten to second place by the South Africans on a photo finish.
Meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark plays out over the stadium speakers. With its insistence that you can’t start a fire without a spark, maybe it is a hint to suggest Britain add Phil Foden to the quartet for the final.
10:42 AM BST
GB qualify… just
The USA run away with it, GB’s Mitchell-Blake taking the baton in the last leg in third behind Japan, overtaking them but being overtaken by South Africa’s Akani Simbine who runs a really fast split. South Africa were in fifth but finish second.
It means GB qualify automatically, alongside the US and South Africa. Japan and Italy face a nervous wait now…
10:37 AM BST
GB women 4x100m have medal chance
Even without their two best runners, Dina Asher Smith and Darryl Neita, the British four of Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt, Imani Lansiquot and Bianca Williams won the second heat of the women’s 4×100 with aplomb.
It was tough group they were in, but thanks to some sleek and smooth handovers, uncharacteristic for a British four, they posted 42.03 just behind the American time from the first heat of 41.94. France and Jamaica was trailing in the wake of the European champions, who looked really good.
Given the Americans still bettered their time despite behaving like a DHL delivery driver and almost dropping the baton, it suggests silver might be the British quartets best hope in the final. But that was a superb run. And they have turbocharge to add in the shape of Asher Smith and Neita.
Men’s 4x100m to come…
10:37 AM BST
GB in men’s 4x100m
Alongside Italy and the USA. No Noah Lyles as expected, but Tokyo 100m champion Marcell Lamont Jacobs is second up for the Italians.
GB’s team is as follows: Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
10:34 AM BST
Chari Hawkins out
American Chari Hawkins has failed all three attempts of her 1.71m high jump attempt in the heptathlon, and is in tears as that will all but rule her out from winning a medal despite a 1100 point score in the hurdles. No dramas elsewhere as of yet though, KJT yet to jump.
Jade O’Dowda registers a 1.74m 903 point opening jump, so whatever happens next she has a competitive score given her PB is 1.86m.
10:29 AM BST
GB win 4x100m heat
From France, then Jamaica, a seamless heat, faultless changeovers. Anchor Desiree Henry fought off some serious French interest to win, Jamaica trailing by a decent margin in third. A 42.03 is the second fastest time, USA leading with 41.94.
Belgium and Ivory Coast disqualified from the first heat which improves Australia’s chances of qualification…
But the Netherlands and Canada go quicker and are the fastest losers so dark horses Australia crash out!
10:21 AM BST
GB in 4x100m heat two
Alongside reigning champions Jamaica – albeit missing big names like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shakari Jackson from that winning squad – and France.
Britain in lane seven – the team is, in order, Bianca Williams, Imam Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Desiree Henry.
10:18 AM BST
KJT high jump
Will need improvement here. Her PB is a very competitive 1.98m but she hasn’t breached the 1.86m mark this season.
10:17 AM BST
Too close for comfort for USA 4x100m
Well that was fun. The Americans completely messed up the exchange between their second and third runners, but still managed to win by applying the afterburners on the last leg.
They qualify with Germany and Switzerland. Australia came fifth and will have to wait and see what happens next.
10:16 AM BST
Heptathlon high jump under-way.
The high jump round of the heptathlon begins.
There are two groups of jumpers, going simultaneously over two bars. Group B is the one to watch, however, as it contain not only the two Brits but also the world number one Anna Hall of the USA and the reigning Olympic champion, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam.
Meanwhile the 100m relay teams are lining up for the women’s heat. The first three in each heat, plus the next two fastest will qualify for the final. Great Britain go in the second heat. So we can all relax watching this first one.
Not if you’re from the USA!
10:15 AM BST
Women’s 4x100m heat one
USA the favourites in lane 6, opting for what is likely their final squad. 100m silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson to anchor, with bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson to lead out.
Three go through automatically and it’s USA from Germany from Switzerland. USA survive an awful second handover, Gabby Thomas charging out too early, they changed just in time with disqualification looming perilously close – it will be reviewed.
It gave Germany a lead into the last leg but Richardson left her for dust in the final leg to gain an unconvincing win.
10:10 AM BST
Shot puters struggling
It feels odd to say given that my shoulders are more suited to typing but this has been been a disappointing morning in the shot put. There’s an automatic qualification mark of 18.45m, but many are failing to throw past the 18m mark.
Nonetheless, Saunders throws an 18.62 that should see her through, so more masked action to come…
10:01 AM BST
Double world champion out
Double world champion shot puter Chase Jackson is quite far off the mark on her third throw – two fouls and a 17.60m means she won’t qualify down in 17th.
09:59 AM BST
Raven Saunders
A poor sub 18-throw leaves the charismatic American well below the qualification threshold – she has one throw to rescue her Olympic fortunes.
09:56 AM BST
Final 100m hurdles repechage
The Bahamas’ Denisha Cartwright, who posts the fastest times in the lineup, flies out the blocks but smashes the third hurdle so falls behind. Finland’s Lotta Harala and Japan’s Tanaka Yumi are the ones to qualify – say what you will about the repechages but the athletes are absolutely delighted to qualify, it means a lot to them.
09:49 AM BST
Shot puters superhuman
In the middle of the field at Stade de France, the qualification for the women’s shot put is going on. There are two throwing zones, from which the throwers need to gain a distance of over 19 metres to progress to the final.
And that is one heck of a long way, further than most of us could chuck a tennis ball. So far only two women have managed it, Sarah Mitton of Canada and Maddison-Lee Wesche of New Zealand.
09:48 AM BST
Women’s 100m hurdles repechage two
Featuring home favourite Laeticia Bapte, but she won’t proceed as she narrowly trails a three-way photo finish, a great race.
More tears, this time for Finland’s national record holder Reetta Hurske, as her Olympic journey ends by a whisker – 0.002 seconds in fact. Liberia’s Ebony Morrison and Ecuador’s Maribel Vanessa Caicedo qualify.
09:43 AM BST
Shot put starts
The women’s shot put has started, and America’s Raven Saunders is the last of 16 in group B to go, wearing a face mask and sunglasses – she fouls. Standby for a photo of her outfit…
09:41 AM BST
Women’s 100m repechages
South Africa’s Marione Fourie and the Netherlands’ Maayke Tjin-A-Lim are through the first heat, Slovakia’s Viktoria Forster is beaten in the dip by the Dutch-woman and leaves the stadium in tears. No best losers by virtue of time with the repechages, just two go through from each race.
09:37 AM BST
KJT eighth
This is the heat the home fans were waiting for. Auriana Lazraq-Klass the home hope and a woman whose surname would sweep the board in Scrabble, gets a roar of support. But it is the Swiss Annik Kaelin who really sets pulses racing with a superb time of 12.87, accruing her 1144 points, twenty more than anyone else thus far.
The Frenchwoman meanwhile, trots in last on 13.54, earning her 1044. It means after the first event, KJT is in eighth, O’Dowda 14th. Plenty of time, and events, to go.
09:31 AM BST
4x100m men running up
Looks like Louie Hinchliffe, Jeremiah Azu, Richard Kilty, and I think Zharnel Hughes will be running.
09:27 AM BST
Strong 3rd heat
Quickest of the heats, 1144 points going to the winner Annik Kaelin of Switzerland who runs a personal best 12.87. The USA’s Taliyah Brooks runs 13.00 dead despite hitting a hurdle, and there are a further three who break the 1100 mark.
Anna Hall is tipped as a favourite for the event and has the strongest 100m hurdles PB of the pack, but is through in sixth as her post-operation struggles continue.
Still faster than KJT, who like Thiam professes that her hurdling isn’t the strongest aspect of her game. She places eighth after a completed first round.
09:21 AM BST
Sophie Weissenberg out
Heartbreak for the German, who withdraws with an injury in her warmup on track – four years of hard work for a moment like that is really tough to watch.
09:18 AM BST
Heat 2 of Heptathlon 100m hurdles
It’s a stacked heat containing all three medallists from Tokyo, and they come through with a leading time of 13.41 from the Netherlands’ Emma Oosterwegel.
Favourite Thiam is through in fifth in 13.56 to score 1041 – encouraging start for KJT but Thiam’s strong suit has never been the hurdles so she’ll be pleased with 1000 points.
09:13 AM BST
KJT has good start
Excellent start in a tough first event for KJT, crossing the line second in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.41 – that’s a season’s best which suggest she’s recovered from her tough time in the World Championships in Rome in June, and is a quicker time than she ran on the way to her world championship title last year.
Jade O’Dowda comes through in third, coming from behind to run a 13.53. That earns her 1046 points, whilst KJT takes 1065 – they both trail new leader Adrianna Sulek-Schubert of Poland whose 13.32 earns her 1077 points.
The heptathlon isn’t a culmination of who wins the most races given its amalgamation of track and field, rather points accumulated according to certain time, height, distance thresholds – anything in the 13 second mark is worth 1000 points, which is a good score to aim for in any event. Great start for both Britons.
Good clean start for KJT, smooth, efficient, controlled in her running, she finished second at 13.40, a time she will consider decent. After all, she was slower when she won the world championship.
Jade O’Dowda is third on 13.53. A good start for both Brits.
09:07 AM BST
Britain’s fortunes so far
KJT’s injury in Tokyo was another of a long list of British close calls, a theme that has continued in Paris despite the inspiring start to the athletics courtesy of Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m victory – she has since stated her world record aspirations.
However, the going has been tough and gold-less since, Josh Kerr suffering a shock defeat to Cole Hocker, Dina Asher-Smith denied a medal by a photo finish, and Matthew Hudson-Smith being pipped to the post in the 400m last night.
08:58 AM BST
What else is on
The heptathlon 100m hurdles, in which KJT and O’Dowda are both competing in the first heat, gets the morning under-way before the women’s shot put and 110m hurdles repechages – there are no British hopefuls in the former and Britain’s Cindy Semper has already qualified for the next round of the hurdles, so can steer clear of the controversial repechage format.
We’re then back to the heptathlon for the high jump, before the 4x100m heats get under-way for the women – keep an eye out for Great Britain running in heat two, in the same heat as Jamaica but in the one after the USA.
Britain are running in the first heat of the men’s 4x100m in the lane next to favourites USA. The morning is then closed by the men’s 800m repechages, but all three of Britain’s hopefuls Max Burgin, Ben Pattison, and Elliot Giles are all already through.
08:48 AM BST
KJT hoping to put injury woes behind her en route to gold
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the third-to-last day of track and field action at the Stade de France as the morning tees us up for five medals in this evening’s session.
Teeing us up for medals tomorrow, however, is the beginning of the women’s heptathlon, starring Great Britain’s Jade O’Dowda and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the latter one of Britain’s biggest medal hopefuls in athletics as she reaches the climax of an illustrious, but Olympic medal-less, 12 year senior career.
Having emerged from British great Jessica Ennis-Hill’s sizeable shadow after a sixth placed finish in 2016, her Tokyo Olympics were hamstrung by injury as she pulled out with a calf injury despite going into the Games as reigning world champion.
Aged 31, Paris could be her last chance to secure a coveted Olympic medal to add the crown jewel to a formidable career that boasts numerous Commonwealth golds and indoor and outdoor world championship victories – including in 2023. She is, however, heading into the event off the back of an injury-hampered season, pulling out of the European championships in Rome in June – the tournament was eventually won by double Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam from Belgium. KJT had started those championships in underwhelimg form before pulling out, and will need a strong start in this morning’s 100m hurdles and high jump if she is to trouble the Belgian.
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