Chernova takes Ennis’s heptathlon crown

DAEGU, South Korea, (Reuters) – Jessica Ennis,  Britain’s brightest hope for athletics gold at next year’s  London Olympics, lost her heptathlon world title to Russia’s  Tatyana Chernova yesterday.

The 25-year-old Ennis trailed the Olympic bronze medallist  by 133 points going into the seventh and final event of the  competition and the Russian was able to protect her commanding  lead comfortably in the 800 metres.

Chernova clocked her season’s best time of two minutes 08.04  seconds to clinch the gold with 6,880 points, while Ennis’s  personal best of 2.07.81 was only good enough for silver with  6,751. Jennifer Oeser of Germany took bronze with 6,572 points.

Bidding to become the first Britain to retain a world  title, Ennis had held a 118-point lead after the morning’s long  jump but her chances of retaining the title she won two years  ago all but disappeared in the second event, the javelin throw.

While Chernova managed a best of 52.95 metres with her  second attempt in blinding sunshine at the Daegu stadium, Ennis  was left counting the cost of failing to register a throw over  39.95.
Britain has had a less than inspiring world championships  approaching the halfway stage of the event.

Olympic and former world champion Christine Ohuruogu was  disqualified from the 400m heats for a false start as was  veteran sprinter Dwain Chambers from the semi-finals of the  100m.