World Athletics Indoor Championships: Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdraws from pentathlon

2 years ago 60

ARTICLE AD BOX

Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson said "for me, this is a triumph" after she withdrew from the pentathlon at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Competing for the first time since injury ended her Olympic heptathlon in August, Johnson-Thompson was in sixth place after four events in Belgrade.

Having accepted a wildcard entry two weeks before the event, the 29-year-old chose to miss the 800m.

"I'm happy and healthy," Johnson-Thompson told BBC Sport.

"I'm not scared to come out here and get beat. The most important thing was to not risk injury. Looking to the summer, this is the best preparation for me.

"World Athletics asked if we wanted the wildcard two weeks ago and training was going well, so I thought why not? For me this is a triumph - I can take so many positives from this," added Johnson-Thompson, who said her "ultimate" target is the World Championships in July.

"I truly believe it's competition rust. This has been six to eight weeks full training and I'm in good enough shape to contend. It has definitely motivated me for the summer and it's what I needed.

"I needed to come out here and get stuck in because I haven't in such a long time."

Johnson-Thompson returns as Mills falls short of medal

Forced to withdraw at Tokyo 2020 after sustaining a calf injury in the 200m, Johnson-Thompson has since relocated to the US to train under new coach Petros Kyprianou.

She was evidently lacking in race sharpness as she finished sixth in her 60m hurdles heat, and was visibly frustrated as she failed to clear 1.86m in the high jump, before a throw of 13.02m in the shot put left her fifth at the end of the morning session.

The 2018 champion's medal hopes faded in the long jump - a second leap of 6.08m the only one of three attempts landed - and she did not return for the closing event.

That final event saw compatriot Holly Mills finish an agonising fourth overall, marginally missing out on bronze by seven points despite a brave personal best in the 800m.

The 21-year-old, in fourth going into the final event, ran two minutes 09.97 seconds - having started the day with a 60m hurdles best of 8.15secs - to finish just behind American bronze medallist Kendell Williams.

Belgium's Noor Vidts won gold, with Poland's Adrianna Sulek in silver.

"It's painful to take," said Mills. "Fourth is a gut-wrenching place to come. I ran my heart out and I gave it all I had. It was far from a perfect pentathlon but it's all I had on the day."

She added: "It sets me up really well for a good season. I think right now I just need to go and cry for a little bit and then tomorrow I can look back on what I've achieved. I'm proud of how far I've come."

Neita 'excited' after semi-final exit

In the women's 60m, Britain's Daryll Neita and Cheyanne Evans-Gray saw their hopes ended in the semi-finals.

Two-time Olympic 4x100m relay bronze medallist Neita, a 100m finalist in Tokyo, qualified for the semi-finals by winning her heat in 7.13 seconds - but she was unable to improve in the semi-final, finishing fifth in 7.15secs.

"It wasn't a good start. I tried to claw it back at the end but my finish wasn't good enough today," Neita said.

"I'm pretty excited with what I've achieved this indoor season. The World Indoors was a bonus. I'm super excited to take this shape into the outdoors [season]. I did [have my eyes on the final] but I'll convert it into something great outdoors."

Evans-Gray posted a personal best time of 7.19secs to finish sixth in her semi-final.

Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji claimed the title, ahead of American pair Mikiah Brisco and Marybeth Sant-Price.

In the women's 400m competition, Jessie Knight and Ama Pipi both also missed out on final places.

British champion Knight faced a nervous wait for confirmation of her semi-final qualification, having initially been disqualified after she was forced off the track on her way to placing second in her heat.

Reinstated, Knight produced a quick final lap but narrowly missed out on one of the three qualifying places for the final, finishing fourth.

Meanwhile, Pipi's time of 52.95 seconds saw her finish last in her semi-final, Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson winning in 51.26secs to post the fastest time before Saturday's final.

Around the BBC iPlayer banner