Heptathlete Ennis aims to banish Beijing blues
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The spotlight will fall on Britain's one and only Olympic track and field champion, Christine Ohuruogu, and on its lingering cause célèbre, Dwain Chambers, when the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships get under way in Birmingham this evening.
By the time the action finishes on Sunday night, though, the chances are the star of the show will be the one British athlete occupying a pole position in the world rankings five weeks ahead of the World Championships in Berlin.
Jessica Ennis tops the global order of merit in the seven-event heptathlon, courtesy of the 6,587 points she amassed in winning the Multistars competition at Desenzano on the shores of Lake Garda in May.
The 23-year-old only leads by 19 points – from Nataliya Dobrynska, the Olympic champion from Ukraine – but, such is her form this summer, her Berlin preparations could be boosted by a British record, or even two, when she contests the 100m hurdles and the high jump on Sunday.
Two weeks ago, Ennis clocked a stunning 12.81sec for the 100m hurdles at a meeting in Bottrop, Germany. In doing so, she missed Angie Thorp's 13-year-old British record by a mere 0.01sec. Ennis is already a joint holder of the high jump record, having cleared 1.95m in Desenzano two years ago.
She won both events at the World Trials and UK Championships two years ago in Manchester, becoming the first woman to complete that particular double in the main domestic championship since Thelma Hopkins in 1957. Sadly, though, she was unable to defend her titles last year because of the ankle fracture that also cost her a shot at an Olympic medal in Beijing.
The 5ft 4in Sheffield athlete looks like being Britain's biggest hope for a World Championship gold in Berlin next month, although Ohuruogu could dictate otherwise. The Londoner finished a distant sixth behind American Sanya Richards in the 400m at the Bislett Games in Oslo a week ago but has peaked to perfection in the last two outdoor seasons, winning World Championship gold in Osaka in 2007 and Olympic gold last summer.
Tonight, Ohuruogu runs in the heats of the 400m, having decided to contest her specialist event rather than the 200m. "Running over 400m in Birmingham will help me keep on track on the run-up to Berlin," she said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments