Nafissatou Thiam is on track for a third successive European Athletics Championship title at Roma 2024 after establishing a 35 point lead at the end of day one of the heptathlon.
The two-time Olympic champion looks back to her imperious best after injury forced her to miss the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Following a successful morning, where 1.95m in the high jump placed her atop the leaderboard, she consolidated her dominance in the evening session.
She landed a season’s best 15.06m in the shot put and then sprinted to 24.81 (+0.3m/s) in the 200m to end the day with 3955 points.
A Belgian 1-2 after four events
She has a familiar face at the top of the leaderboard in Belgian teammate Noor Vidts. She landed a shot personal best of 14.70m, her second lifetime breakthrough of the day having also set a new 100m hurdles best of 13.16 in the opening event of the day.
She rounded off with a season’s best 23.85 (+0.3m/s) in the 200m. Fourth in Munich two years ago, she sits in silver medal position overnight with 3920.
Dream day for Lazraq-Khlass
France’s Auriana Lazraq-Khlass is a surprise contender sitting in third with 3915 points.
She enjoyed a dream first day, running a personal best 13.35 (-0.3m/s) in the 100m hurdles, equalling her personal best with 1.77m in the high jump, adding a meaty 1.24m to her previous best in the shot with 15.27m and then added yet another lifetime best in the 200m with 23.56 (+0.1m/s).
“Incredible! I love it! I would like to live this every day of my life,” said the thrilled French athlete. “I achieved today's result with a lot of hard work and serenity. I am 25 years young but I feel old in athletics because of so many years of training I have done.”
Twice world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdrew after three events citing a small niggle in her right leg. The British athlete had looked rusty in her first heptathlon of the year and ended her competition prematurely after 12.44m in the shot left her in ninth place.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics