Katarina Johnson-Thompson targeting golden hat-trick for 2018 after World Indoors success

The 25-year-old claimed her first global title on Friday, finishing 50 points ahead of Austria's Ivona Dadic

Nick Mashiter
Saturday 03 March 2018 13:37 GMT
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Friday's gold ended a series of heptathlon disappointments after she finished fifth at last year’s World Championships in London
Friday's gold ended a series of heptathlon disappointments after she finished fifth at last year’s World Championships in London (Getty)

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Katarina Johnson-Thompson has targeted a golden hat-trick in 2018 after claiming the pentathlon title at the World Indoor Championships.

The 25-year-old finished 50 points ahead of Austria’s Ivona Dadic and 113 in front of Cuba’s Yorgelis Rodriguez to take victory with 4750 points in Birmingham.

It ended a series of heptathlon disappointments after she finished fifth at last year’s World Championships in London, sixth at the Rio Olympics and 28th at the World Championships in 2015.

Johnson-Thompson is also due to compete at the Commonwealth Games next month and August’s European Championships in Berlin and is eyeing further success.

She said: “I said to myself I wanted two golds and one other medal but I would love three golds. If I can that would be great.

“That is what I am hoping. I am so happy. I have a busy year and this gives me confidence and belief going to the Commonwealth Games that I can compete at a certain level and come away with a medal and not screw it up.

“It means the world. It is something I have been trying to do since 2012 when I stepped onto the international scene.

“I was disappointed last year that I wasn’t able to do it outdoors.

“After the last couple of years I have had, there was no pressure on me because I have not done too well. I am just happy that I can kick-start this year as a gold medallist.”

Johnson-Thompson recorded a lifetime best of 12.68m in the shot
Johnson-Thompson recorded a lifetime best of 12.68m in the shot (Getty)

She had not claimed a major medal since winning pentathlon gold at the European Indoor Championships in 2015.

It was a weakened field with the top three from last year’s heptathlon at the World Championships – Nafissatou Thiam, Carolin Schafer and Anouk Vetter – absent.

Johnson-Thompson never imposed herself to seriously pull clear until the final event, the 800 metres, which she won with ease.

A lifetime best of 12.68m in the shot put kept the Great Britain star in firm contention, despite failing to seriously impose herself in the morning session.

She only cleared 1.91m in the high jump, well below her personal best of 1.98m, and failed three times at 1.94m.

Johnson-Thompson also posted an unspectacular 7.36 seconds in the 60m hurdles, even if it did equal a season’s best, while she also posted 6.50m in the long jump.

On Saturday Laura Muir will aim to build on her 3,000m bronze from Thursday when she races in the 1,500m final, while CJ Ujah runs in the men’s 60m.

PA

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