Katarina Johnson-Thompson sets up thrilling heptathlon finale

Impressive long jump and javelin PB allow Briton to take the lead with one event to go in Budapest

Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson has put herself firmly in contention to win the second world heptathlon title of her career after moving into the lead with an impressively strong start to day two in Budapest.

The 2019 champion, who had begun the day in second place on 3905 points, 93 behind Anna Hall, overturned the deficit by leaping out to 6.54m in the long jump – 35cm further than the American managed – before landing a PB throw of 46.14m in the javelin.

With just the 800m to go later today, Johnson-Thompson sits on 5710, 26 points ahead of Dutchwoman Anouk Vetter and 43 ahead of Hall. The US champion has the fastest two-lap time of the trio and could well still land the first major title of her career but does not appear to be at full fitness, wearing prominent strapping on her left leg.

There is still plenty of work to do but already Johnson-Thompson’s performance represents an extraordinary comeback for an athlete who has had more than her fair share of struggles since that British record-breaking golden moment in Doha four years ago.

There was a ruptured Achilles, followed by a torn calf which destroyed her Olympic hopes in Tokyo and then required surgery. Each left their mark in more ways than one.

There was the brighter note of that Commonwealth title last summer but Johnson-Thompson recently told The Guardian: “It felt like I was asleep the whole year,” and admitted to concerns her top level career might have been over.

A second-place finish in Götzis behind Hall back in May brought confidence levels back and, though she confessed that landing a medal of any colour in Hungary would represent a huge success, gold is now very much the target.

There was little drama elsewhere on the track and in the field at the National Athletics Stadium as a number of big names made their first appearances to smoothly progress through their heats.

There had been question marks over the fitness of defending 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, but the Jamaican looked in ominously good form when winning her heat in 11.01. She was joined in the semi-finals by 200m world champion Shericka Jackson (11.06) as well as the British duo of Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita (11.03 and 11.04 respectively). The third British hope, Imani Lansiquot, was disqualified after a false start.

America’s Sha’Carri Richardson clocked the fastest time of the round…