Johnson-Thompson makes superb start in heptathlon

Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson leads nan heptathlon aft making a superb commencement successful her bid to yet onshore nan Olympic badge which has truthful acold eluded her.

Reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson, 31, is narrowly up aft nan 100m hurdles and precocious jump stages of nan seven-event discipline.

Johnson-Thompson racked up 2,197 points, pinch defending Olympic champion Nafi Thiam of Belgium 2nd connected 2,173.

Fellow Briton Jade O'Dowda sits successful ninth spot connected 2,024, while Kate O'Connor - representing Ireland - is 19th connected 1,908.

The changeable put and 200m return spot successful nan Stade de France later connected Thursday, pinch nan medals decided aft nan agelong jump, javelin and 800m connected Friday.

Meanwhile, Britain's women's 4x100m relay squad cruised into Friday's last by impressively winning their heat.

The quartet of Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Desiree Henry clocked 42.03 seconds arsenic they look to gain Team GB's first badge successful nan arena since 1956.

In nan men's 4x100m relay, Britain faced an anxious hold until their advancement was confirmed.

A photograph decorativeness was required earlier Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake recovered retired they had vanished 3rd successful nan first power aft a season's-best 38.04.

Jamaica did not make Friday's last arsenic their squad - continuing to rebuild pursuing nan halcyon days led by Usain Bolt - vanished 4th successful nan 2nd race.

Johnson-Thompson is 1 of nan astir talented and recognisable athletes of her generation.

But nan prize which matters astir continues to evade her.

An Olympic badge has proved to beryllium kryptonite: finishing 14th astatine London 2012, sixth successful Rio 2016 and seeing her bid astatine Tokyo 2020 cruelly ended erstwhile she tore her calf successful nan 200m.

Winning a 2nd world title past twelvemonth boded good going into her 4th changeable astatine opinionated connected nan Olympic podium.

However, location person besides been fittingness doubts coming into Paris.

Johnson-Thompson has needed pain-killing injections to woody pinch tendinitis successful her Achilles but, speaking earlier nan heptathlon started connected Thursday, said thought she was "in bully shape".

The opening arena of nan 100m hurdles is ever a bully gauge and Johnson-Thompson came retired confidently successful an encouraging start.

Running a season-best 13.40 seconds was capable to decorativeness runner-up successful nan first heat, earning 1,065 points and putting her tied eighth.

Next was nan precocious jump - 1 of Johnson-Thompson's strongest events.

Coming successful astatine 1.77m, Johnson-Thompson jumped smoothly connected her measurement to clearing 1.92m - her champion people for 5 years - but could not spell complete 1.95m.

It ended a two-way duel pinch Thiam, who besides grounded to clear nan height, and leaves them arsenic nan frontrunners aft an engrossing start.