Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson eyeing return to successful methods

Defending Commonwealth Games champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson is eyeing a return to the highest as she bids for a primary heptathlon title in three years.

The 29-year-old is the in a single day chief on the Commonwealth Games after a strong first day on the Alexander Stadium.

Johnson-Thompson sits on 3765 factors, 109 forward of Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor.

The pandemic and two critical Achilles and calf accidents have stopped Johnson-Thompson successful a title for the reason that World Championships in 2019 however she is closing in on a profitable defence in Birmingham.

She stated: “It’s really nice, in 2018 this competition was the platform for me to win global medals so hopefully this will be it again and my transition back. It’s hard to be confident when my results have happened over the last year but I’m confident in myself, I’m enjoying it, I’m happy, it’s all I can do.

“I got two seasons’ best and two weeks post jetlag, travel and heptathlon (from the World Championships) I wasn’t really expecting them. I’m really happy, feeling good and feel like I recovered well.

“It’s been tough but I’ve been pushing so much this season I was happy to have a week off, it was nice being at home, not training and letting my body recover. It’s my last competition of the year so hopefully it will be a nice way to finish off the season.”

Johnson-Thompson comes off the again of ending eighth on the World Championships, relinquishing her title to Olympic champion Nafi Thiam.

On Tuesday, she held a 17-point lead after the 100m hurdles and excessive soar on the opening morning. After a throw of 12.94m within the shot put it was right down to 11 factors, forward of O’Connor, however after successful the 200m in 23.70 seconds she elevated her lead.

Meanwhile, Holly Bradshaw was pressured to withdraw from the pole vault. Bradshaw, who received Olympic bronze final 12 months, did not recuperate from the hamstring damage she suffered in a freak accident on the World Championships.

Her pole broke throughout her closing observe soar – seeing her land awkwardly and damage her hamstring – and he or she needed to pull out in Eugene. At the Alexander Stadium, after testing the damage previous to the competitors, she was unable to compete.

She advised the BBC: “I had a scan after my incident in the worlds and I had a partial tear of my hamstring and tendon. I vaulted in Saturday very tentatively and I thought I would be OK but in my warm-up I felt something pop. This was going to be my last Commonwealth Games and a chance of a medal but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m glad I gave it a go and wasn’t sat at home.”

Earlier, England’s Daryll Neita declared she is able to problem Elaine Thompson-Herah for gold. The 25-year-old clocked 11.02 seconds to win her 100m warmth on the Alexander Stadium within the morning.

She reached Wednesday’s semi-final forward of an anticipated closing showdown with reigning Olympic 100m champion Thompson-Herah. With Dina Asher-Smith out after struggling a hamstring damage on the World Championships the highlight is on Neita who’s primed to go for prime spot.

“I’m always aiming for gold. Any time I step on the track I want gold. I’m going to get as close as I can,” stated final 12 months’s 100m Olympic finalist.

“It was nice to come out after what’s been a long week of travel and readjusting to the UK. It’s nice to win the heat and get ready for the final tomorrow.”

Scotland’s Laura Muir, who received 1500m bronze in Eugene final month, additionally reached the 800m closing in a single minute 58.84 seconds, becoming a member of Keely Hodgkinson and Alexandra Bell in Saturday’s showpiece.

She stated: “My training has been really good since I got home and if anything I think I’m just going to be getting fitter. I just hope by the weekend I’ll be in a good place to get on that podium.”

Hannah Cockroft received the T33/34 100m forward of England team-mate Kare Adenegan.