Ennis-Hill off the mark in Olympic heptathlon

Although Johnson-Thompson admits Ennis-Hill’s victory at London 2012 was a source of motivation, she now wants to emulate her by fulfilling her own Olympic aspirations.

At least the duo were made to feel at home by the rain that came down in time for the first event of the heptathlon, leaving puddles on the track by the time Johnson-Thompson and Ennis-Hill took to the blocks.

“I’ve never got to a global final and I think if I finish my career without that happening it would be a waste of talent so that’s the aim”.

But Johnson-Thompson – tipped to push Ennis-Hill all the way for gold along with Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton – roared back in the high jump, breaking the British record with a 1.98m clearance.

“There’s a lot of pressure coming here as defending champion and the world record-holder, but I feel like nearly close to my good years of 2010 to 2012”.

She will face GB team-mate Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who cites Ennis-Hill’s Olympic gold as her inspiration. Rudisha then issued an ominous warning: “I’m in good form, there’s no doubt about that”, he said.

The Brit was the only competitor to duck in under 13 seconds and while the time was slower than her effort in London four years on her way to Super Saturday gold, it was faster than she achieved in winning last year’s World Championship gold in Beijing.

Theisen-Eaton is 52 points off Ennis-Hill and Johnson-Thompson is 96 behind.

“I’ll put myself in the best position I can tomorrow and hopefully the legs turn up with me and I can run a good race”.

“Mentally, I’ve got to be 100 per cent focused”.

The Liverpudlian has come a long way from the 19-year-old who finished 15th at the London Games. Physically, I’m going to have to be at the best I’ve been for the past few years. It’s not a learning curve, it’s just an experience and what I could do different from now I just don’t know. “You live and learn”.