Editor's Letter
Latest News
More news articles Ennis claims European title
Jessica Ennis holds off Nataliya Dobrynska to win the European heptathlon title in a PB of 6823
© Mark Shearman
JESSICA ENNIS held off a determined effort from Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska from Ukraine on the final day of competition to win the European heptathlon title and in similar fashion to the World Championships and the World Indoor Championships, Ennis maintained pole position from the very first event.
After the completion of the long jump, Ennis held a lead of 68 points over Dobrynska and even though Ennis improved her javelin PB to 46.71, the Ukrainian also set a PB of 49.25m to whittle Ennis’s lead down to 18 points.
Dobrynska isn’t particularly renowned for her 800m ability but even so, the Ukrainian was performing a long way above expectations and victory for Ennis was still by no means guaranteed. Dobrynska, who was only seventh in Gotzis with 6023, overtook Ennis with 250m remaining but as soon as the Ukrainian moved ahead, Ennis responded immediately to open up convincing ground on Dobrynska to seal the title.
Ennis clocked a season’s best of 2:10.18 ahead of Dobrynska, who performed valiantly with her second PB in succession of 2:12.06.
Ennis, who was set back with an inner ear infection this summer, improved her lifetime best to 6823 but the 24-year-old finished just outside Denise Lewis’s UK record of 6831, which will surely come in the next twelve months.
The City of Sheffield athlete also broke Carolina Kluft’s championship record of 6740.
Dobrynska won the silver medal with a PB of 6778, while world silver medallist Jennifer Oeser from Germany won the bronze, also in a PB of 6683.
Read Athletics Weekly Online: Click here for a Free Trial
