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Katarina Johnson-Thompson all smiles after first-day Olympics heptathlon heroics
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After the pain of Tokyo, and the horror of her Olympic dream ending on day one of the heptathlon, the broad smile across Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s face could not have provided a happier contrast.
Johnson-Thompson had ruptured her achilles tendon in the build-up to the delayed Games in 2021 when she was the reigning world champion and, following further injury in Japan, feared that she was destined to remain a shadow of her former sporting self.
On Thursday, she produced her finest first-day heptathlon performance for five years to deliver a series of season and personal bests that have not just put her into the lead and on course for a first Olympic medal but a major chance of gold.
She holds a 48-point advantage over Belgium’s double Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam ahead of what is likely to be a knife-edge second-day battle involving also the American Anna Hall, who is herself within 100 points of the British leader.
Asked if it was a dream day, Johnson-Thompson said: “Yes, a really good day all round. One of the best I’ve had in a long time. It is one of the best places I’ve been coming into an Olympics. But it’s like being in the lead 50m down a 100m race. Another day tomorrow.”
There has been some doubt about Johnson-Thompson’s form and fitness coming into these Games. She started the European Championship heptathlon in Rome but abruptly pulled out following what was described as “a niggle” before a similar withdrawal from the 200m at the British trials. Was she nursing something more sinister, or simply taking sensible precautions ahead of a season that would be defined by what happened here in Paris?
Final conclusions can only be drawn once the 800m is complete on Friday night but, starting at 10.05am in front of a packed Stade de France, the signs were instantly encouraging.
A time of 13.40sec in the 100m hurdles was quicker than she had run in winning the world title last year.
They then moved on to the high jump, an event where Thiam – the Olympic gold medallist in 2016 and 2021 – would usually have been expected to establish a significant advantage.
That initially appeared likely, with Thiam clearing heights all the way up to 1.92m at the first attempt. Johnson-Thompson’s sequence had rather more blemishes – a failure at 1.86m and 1.89m – before then two misses at 1.92m. A final chance awaited and, rising to the moment, she matched Thiam and went clear.
There was then a similar story in the shot put when Johnson-Thompson produced a 14.44m personal best with her very last throw.
That just left the 200m and, after Thiam had run 24.45sec, Johnson-Thompson romped to victory in 23.44sec.
It was hard not to think back to Tokyo when Johnson-Thompson’s heptathlon ended with a torn calf that forced her out of the 200m and even left trackside officials enquiring whether she needed to leave the competition in a wheelchair. “I just thought I’d fade into the background and be one of those athletes who’s there to make up the numbers and that’s the last thing I wanted,” she later said. It was understandably difficult at this point to see a way back and, while she returned to win Commonwealth Games in 2022 against a limited field, it was her uplifting World Championship triumph last year which suggested that something special was indeed possible.
Team GB’s sprinters had earlier made their way into the 4x100m sprint relay finals on Friday evening without any dramas or dropped batons. Georgia Bell and Laura Muir also qualified impressively for Sunday’s 1500m final.
Athletics on day 13 of Paris 2024: As it happened
08:54 PM BST
Hurdles gold for Holloway
After a few nights of extremely tight finishes on the track the finals this evening have all felt pretty decisive. Holloway romps home in the 110m hurdles, much as his team-mate McLaughlin-Levrone did in the previous race and Tebogo had time to celebrate before crossing the line in the 200m. The tears of joy from javelin thrower Nadeem will live longest in my memory, though. Will we see a similarly comfortable ending for KJT in the heptathlon tomorrow? We can dream, although GB tends to prefer keeping it tight and coming second.
08:35 PM BST
New world record!
A 400m hurdles world record for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone which delights the 70-odd thousand crowd, but probably not as much as a win for Femke Bol would have done. Loads of orange shirts dotted around the stadium tonight and she is beloved by the Parisians too, albeit not as much as surprise French finalist Louise “hipster glasses” Maraval who finished last.
08:25 PM BST
Women’s long jump: United States win gold!
It’s Tara Davis-Woodhall who takes the Olympic title with a best jump of 7.10m.
08:23 PM BST
One of KJT’s best first-day scores
No Tebogoesque chest-thumping as KJT crosses the line comfortably in first in her heptathlon 200m heat and she did not look entirely happy. Not her quickest time at that distance but she will take a lead of 48 points into day two of the heptathlon with one of her best ever first day scores.
08:20 PM BST
Heptathlon, top six after day one (four events)
Johnson-Thompson, Great Britain 4,055pts
Thiam, Belgium 4,007pts
Hall, United States 3,956pts
Vidts, Belgium 3,951pts
Dokter, Netherlands 3,893pts
Kaelin, Switzerland 3,834pts
08:14 PM BST
Heptathlon, 200m heat three: KJT wins
It’s a 23.45sec which means that, I believe, she will take the lead over Nafi Thiam who ran a 24.37sec. It will not be a big lead, however. Just 48 points.
08:12 PM BST
They are off!
The gun goes and it’s a decent start for KJT and comes into the home straight in the lead... what will her time be?
08:10 PM BST
Let’s see what Johnson-Thompson can do in her 200m heat
There is the potential for her to take the overnight lead with a fantastic run here.
08:05 PM BST
Women’s heptathlon, 200m: Heat two under way
It’s a 23.58 for Gerevini who wins the heat, so not quite as quick as the first race.
Disappointing from Jade O’Dowda in the first heat of the heptathlon 200m, she looked well-placed in third for most of the race but lost her way (or, more accurately, some speed) in the final quarter and dropped down to seventh in the end. Attention being increasingly diverted by the javelin with Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem smashing the Olympic record earlier. Another 4m to go to break the world record, which has stood for nearly 30 years.
07:57 PM BST
Women’s heptathlon, 200m: Poland’s Sulek-Schubert wins heat 1
Nafi Thiam comes in second with a personal best of 24.37 in this event which will please her. 900-odd points for Thiam. Very useful.
07:54 PM BST
The first women’s 200m heat in the heptathlon is about to get under way
Leader Nafi Thiam is in this one, as is Team GB’s Jade O’Dowda... Katarina Johnson-Thompson runs in the final heat in about 15 minutes.
07:52 PM BST
Noah Lyles has Covid
According to the BBC’s Gabby Logan, US Track & Field say that Lyles raced with Covid.
07:46 PM BST
Letsile Tebogo speaks after becoming Olympic 200m champion
It’s something that I’ve never seen in my life or dreamed of. I just came here with the little that I had in me just to push through. My coach just told me, now it’s your race, you can do whatever you want. It’s either medal or not, I don’t care. For me, this is really, really amazing moment for myself.
He seemed to just be happy that he made it to the final, and says his coach was delighted at that fact, too. Well done.
07:38 PM BST
‘Lyles antics grating?’
Might be imagining it but think Lyles’ antics might be beginning to grate on his opponents. That was his most ornate entry yet, pure boxing (or professional wrestling if feeling less generous). Must have run 100m in various leaps and bounds on his circuitous route to his block. A big “shhhh” from the stadium announcer quietens the USA chants before the race.
The race itself might quieten Lyles, stunning performance from Letsile Tebogo, and he had his great moment of showmanship just before reaching the line, beating his chest with his hand shortly before breaking the African record. Medics are with Lyles off the track, he looks in some distress.
07:36 PM BST
Lyles is receiving medical attention at the side of the track
Nothing serious I don’t think but some discomfort.
07:35 PM BST
Lyles just didn’t have the finish there
But Tebogo did. It’s a quick time, too. A 19.46sec makes him the fifth fastest man ever to run the 200m.
07:34 PM BST
Tebogo takes gold for Botswana!
Bednarek second for the United States with his team-mate Lyles taking bronze!
07:32 PM BST
Here we go...
The athletes are called to their marks. Can anyone stop Lyles? We are about to find out.
07:31 PM BST
Can Noah Lyles take the sprint double?
He uses a fair amount of energy just getting to the blocks, leaping about all over the place.
07:28 PM BST
Men’s 200m final is not far away
Here’s the start list, though not the lane order.
Makarawu, Zimbabwe
Charamba, Zimbabwe
Ogando, Dominican Republic
Lyles, United States
Knighton, United States
Tebogo, Botswana
Bednarek, United States
Fahnbulleh, Liberia
07:18 PM BST
Current standings in the women’s long jump final
Moore, United States 6.96m
Davis-Woodhall 6.93m
Iapichino, Italy 6.78m
Mihambo, Germany 6.77m
Smith, Jamaica 6.66m
Nichols, United States 6.64m
07:16 PM BST
Watch: Johnson-Thompson delighted with PB in shot put
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has thrown a personal best in the shot put ☄️
This heptathlon competition 🔥#BBCOlympics #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/TsdiO1PF7M— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2024
07:16 PM BST
Team GB’s Jade O’Dowda is in 14th of 16
312 points adrift.
07:15 PM BST
Heptathlon top eight after three events with gaps to leader
Nafi Thiam, Belgium 3,070pts
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Great Britain -50pts
Anna Hall, United States -105pts
Noor Vidts, Belgium -113pts
Sofie Doktor, Netherlands -184pts
Annik Kaelin, Switzerland -228pts
Taliyah Brooks, United States -239pts
Anouk Vetter, Netherlands -249pts
07:12 PM BST
That is the shot put finished in the women’s heptathlon
Johnson-Thompson has lost the lead to Nafi Thiam but trails by just 50 points after a personal best in the third event. Full standings coming up with the 200m heats to come.
07:04 PM BST
A much better throw from KJT third time
12.65 with her second throw but it was 14.44m from the heptathlete’s third attempt, so more than a metre better. That is a personal best and my quite a margin. More than 50cm! Excellent. She is delighted with that letting out a scream and looks delighted still a minute after, too.
That said, Nafi Thiam looks to have gone better with her second throw, too with a 15.54m.
06:57 PM BST
Women’s 1500m semi-final two, here is who qualified
Welteji, Ethopia
Hull, Australia
Hiltz, United States
Tsegay, Ethopia
Ejore, Kenya
Guillemot, France
A roar for Agath Guillemot setting a new national record for France and clinching the final qualifying spot for the 1500m final on Saturday night. A personal best for Luton’s Revee Walcott-Nolan but some way short of the sixth placed required to progress. She sunk into a disappointed squat just past the finish line. Never mind Reeve, the Luton Town season starts on Monday.
06:55 PM BST
Nafi Thiam’s turn in the shot put
This could be where she makes up ground on Johnson-Thompson. She has put herself in a good position to do that, throwing 15.20m to move into the provisional lead.
06:53 PM BST
Walcott-Nolan does not make it through for Team GB
Was in contention for the top six for a bit but slipped back as the race reached its climax. Full results for that coming up soon.
Johnson-Thompson’s second throw coming up soon in the shot put.
06:51 PM BST
Final lap in the second semi of the women’s 1500m
Tsegay and Welteji lead the way with Hiltz, Hill, Ejore and Guillemot there. Walcott-Nolan has slipped back a bit to seventh which is not enough to see her through to the final. And unfortunately she is falling out of touch rather than reeling the top six in.
06:50 PM BST
The women’s second semi-final in the 1500m is under way
It is two Ethiopians who lead the way. Walcott-Nolan in this semi-final, and it looks a tough ask to get into the final. Perhaps. Top six qualify. This is looking like a slightly faster race.
Tsegay and Welteji first and second Walcott-Nolan in fifth as it stands.
06:48 PM BST
Women’s 1500m semi-final one, result
Kipyegon, Kenya
Bell, Great Britain
St Pierre, United States
Muir, Great Britain
Kazimierska, Poland
Marques, Spain
Guerrero, Spain
Ramsden, New Zealand
Griffith, Australia
Haylom, Ethiopia
Chephcirchir, Kenya
Cavalli, Italli
Bold denotes those who have qualified for final.
06:46 PM BST
KJT’s first throw in the shot put
Not her strongest event of the seven and she perhaps underlines that with a throw of 13.38m which is not terrible but she could do with being a bit closer to 14m.
06:42 PM BST
Kipyegon wins women’s 1500m semi-final 1
It’s a comfortable qualification. Two Team GB athletes are through as Georgia Bell just beats Laura Muir to the line but Muir had plenty in reserve, though she ended up finishing fourth in the end. Elle Purrier St. Pierre takes third and also qualifies for the final.
Looked like two well-executed plans fro Georgia Bell and Laura Muir in that 1500m semi. Intriguing to see Muir stay so far back until the penultimate lap then move up to lead without looking in any way flustered. Ended up well behind the Kenyan Kipyegon, but also did not look to be trying that hard to catch her up. Total consistency from Bell who settled in around fourth throughout and saved enough to come in second.
06:40 PM BST
Into the final stages now
Faith Kipyegon leads the way ahead of Muir, Bell and then Elle Purrier St. Pierre as they enter the final straight...
06:39 PM BST
Semi-final 1, women’s 1500m
Muir leading the way with a lap to go. Griffith has dropped back a bit. Chepchirchir and Faith Kipyegon are up there in the top four.
06:38 PM BST
Semi-final 1, women’s 1500m
Griffith leads the way for Australia as Muir comes wide and charges to the front with two laps to go. Chepchirchir of Kenya is up there too to make up the top three. Georgia Bell is in fourth and on the inside.
06:37 PM BST
Semi-final 1, women’s 1500m
They are off and Laura Muir is at the back in the early stages, though it is not a rapid pace. Bell is in about fifth at the moment, after 400m.
06:34 PM BST
Right, we are nearly ready to get going in the first semi-final of the women’s 1500m
It was silver for Team GB in the men’s... obviously Muir needs to get to the final first before she starts thinking about what colour of medal she’ll get.
06:16 PM BST
Briton watch: Women’s 1500m
Laura Muir runs in the first semi-final for Team GB at 6.35pm alongside Georgia Bell. In the second semi-final is Revée Walcott-Nolan. Muir was a silver medallist in this event at the Tokyo Games.
06:07 PM BST
Updated medal table as it stands
05:42 PM BST
KJT gets a good start in the heptathlon
Helped by this jump of 1.92m.
The moment Katarina Johnson-Thompson cleared 1.92m in the high jump – a dream start to her heptathlon 🤩
She's chuffed 🙌#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/FxyiDEKpFo— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2024
05:37 PM BST
Heptathlon standings after two rounds
Johnson-Thompson, Great Britain 2,197pts
Thiam, Belgium 2,173pts
Hall, United States 2,164pts
Vidts, Belgium 2,125pts
Dokter, Netherlands, 2,094pts
05:20 PM BST
What is on the agenda for tonight in track and field?
6.35pm BST
Women’s 1500m semi-finals, Heptathlon (shot put)
7pm
Women’s long jump final
7.25pm
Men’s javelin final
7.30pm
Men’s 200m final
7.55pm
Heptathlon 200m heat 1
8.03pm
Heptathlon 200m heat 2
8.11pm
Heptathlon 200m heat 3
8.25pm
Men’s 110m hurdles final
8.45pm
Men’s 100m hurdles final
05:14 PM BST
Heptathlon recap: Johnson-Thompson leads the way
With the evening action about to resume in Paris, here is Jeremy Wilson’s report from the morning session of the heptathlon.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has made her best start to a heptathlon competition for five years after season-best performances in both the 110m hurdles and long jump put her into gold medal position after the first two events.
Having dropped out of the European Championships with “a niggle” in June, Johnson-Thompson’s form was something of an unknown but the 2019 and 2023 world champion began brightly with a 13.40sec run in the hurdles.
That was quicker than she had run in winning the world title last year and crucially was also narrowly faster than her big rival, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, who ran a time of 13.56sec. They then moved onto the high jump, an event where Thiam – the Olympic champion in 2016 and 2021 – would usually have been expected to establish an advantage.
That appeared likely to happen initially, with Thiam clearing heights all the way up to 1.92m at the first attempt. Johnson-Thompson’s sequence had rather more blemishes – a failure at 1.86m and 1.89m - before then two misses at 1.92m.
A final chance awaited and, rising to the moment, she matched Thiam. With both athletes then failing to clear 1.95m, Johnson-Thompson’s narrow lead was intact ahead of this evening’s shot-put and 200m.
Team GB’s sprinters had earlier made their way into the 4x100m sprint relay finals on Friday evening without any dramas or dropped batons. The women, for whom Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith just missed out on individual medals and will come in for the final, look especially well placed to challenge for a medal. The team of Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Desiree Henry got the job done impressively on Thursday.
Lansiquot said that the medal push had been eight years in the making. “This not just a week, or two weeks or a year in the making, this is two Olympic cycles in the making,” she said. “Confidence we have as a team is through the roof. The final will be really exciting for sure.”
The men only came though their heat in third but Zharnel Hughes, who dropped out of the 200m with a hamstring injury, could still come in. Their medal chances are also strengthened by Jamaica crashing after a series of terrible changeovers. Louie Hinchliffe, whose changeover to Richard Kilty was especially impressive, said: “It was slick – we’re from the north, we both grew up in the same environment, so it’s so easy. We are in sync with each other and spend so much time with each other.”
12:09 PM BST
Heptathlon standings, after two events
Johnson-Thompson leads. Her team-mate, Jade O’Dowda, is down in ninth with 2,024 points.
Johnson-Thompson (GB) – 2,197pts
Thiam (Bel) – 2,173
Hall (US) – 2164
Vidts (Bel) – 2125
Dokter (Ned) – 2094
11:50 AM BST
KJT establishes morning lead
Thiam’s final attempt is very close! Her legs just clip it on the way through, KJT will have a morning lead ahead of her last jump...
...is a fail, but she matches Thiam in the Belgian’s strongest discipline.
She takes 1132 to take her total to 2197, leading 24 points from the double Olympic champion. USA’s Anna Hall is in third with 2164.
Britain’s Jade O’Dowda is down in ninth on 2024 having jumped 1.80m.
What a start for the Briton, with the long jump and 200m, her known specialities, still to come.
11:47 AM BST
Onto 1.95m
Thiam fails for the first time, it’s not a close call either which is encouraging for KJT.
KJT’s first attempt at 1.95m is abandoned as she gathers too much pace, but Thiam fails a second attempt.
KJT’s second attempt is the closest either have come - last jumps incoming...
11:44 AM BST
KJT clears 1.92m
What a jump! 39 extra points, Thiam reeled in, big celebration! It’s a provisional 24 point lead from Thiam.
Hall’s attempt is poor so it’s a two-horse race in the high jump now - a solid seasonal best showing from Anna Hall to put her in a provisional bronze after the first morning of action.
11:40 AM BST
Advantage Thiam
Thiam again makes it look easy as she goes over 1.92m. KJT’s shoulder brushes the bar on her first attempt so advantage Thiam - Hall also misses.
Her second attempt is even closer but still a miss, Hall also getting closer but failing.
11:39 AM BST
“Brilliant by KJT”
Brilliant by KJT. She has just gone over 1.89 on the high jump. She is enjoying herself this morning. Anna Hall has just done it too.
So the top three - Thiam, KJT, Hall - will now head for 1.92 to see if they kind find space between them.
11:35 AM BST
Thiam establishing lead
As expected in the high jump, Thiam is coasting, easing over 1.89m.
KJT follows her over first time though! That’s a big celebration, definitely a score she’ll be happy with as a marker - it can be improved upon too! Again an improvement on where she was at this point in her world championship win in Budapest last year.
Even bigger celebrations from Anna Hall as she clears it afterwards - these are the leading three as the Netherlands’ Sofie Doktor aborts her third attempt at 1.86m.
11:31 AM BST
KJT makes 1.86m
Great jump from the Briton, equalling her season’s best on a second attempt. That takes her past the 1000 point mark, USA’s Anna Hall follows suit shortly after.
Never mind Phil Foden, KJT is definitely on fire. At her second attempt, she has just cleared 1.86 at the high jump. It has been a very good morning so far in her hopes of securing gold.
11:29 AM BST
Final 800m repechage
USA’s Brandon Miller lining up in this despite consistent sub 1 minute 44 times - he’s favourite here.
And he leads from start to finish, pushed all the way by Algeria’s Mohamed Ali Gouaned and Norway’s Tobias Gronstad to a 1.44.22. It’s the fastest heat and all three will head through and race tomorrow for the semi final - their third race in as many days.
11:23 AM BST
Thiam making early statement
Thiam coasts over 1.86m with ease, only her second jump of the day, taking her over the 1000 point mark - she’s the only heptathlete to clear it thus far, KJT has failed it once.
Annik Kaelen of Poland was first in the 100m hurdles but can’t improve on a 1.74m jump.
11:20 AM BST
800m repechage race three
France’s Benjamin Robert is running in the third repechage, Joe Deng running for Australia in what must be one of the best kits on offer in Paris.
Robert leads for much of the race, but is out-sprinted by Italy’s Simone Barontini in a slower time than the second heat meaning Robert won’t be progressing as a fastest loser.
11:14 AM BST
800m repechage
Mexico’s Jesus Lopez coasts home but it’s a much quicker heat than the original preliminaries, as well as the first repechage so France’s Corentin le Clezio’s Olympics are over. Spain’s Adrian Ben and Belgium’s Pieter Sisk are now the current fastest losers, the former an accomplished runner who has twice got his race tactics wrong.
The repechage being faster than the original heats has been a continual theme this Olympics, but the runners who have progressed from them have struggled to go any further.
11:08 AM BST
KJT shows Olympic spirit
She’s one of the senior members of this hepathlon field and provided Chara Hawkins some comfort after her three failed jumps rules her out of a medal.
11:05 AM BST
800m repechages
The 800m repechages have begun, only one winner from each race progressing, as well as two fastest losers. Frenchman Corentin le Clezio.
He falls behind from the first lap though, and a sprint finish leaves him in third place behind Botswana’s automatic qualifier Kethobogile Haingura and Algeria’s Slimane Moula.
Le Clezio technically not ruled out yet, but it would take a miracle for him to proceed to the semis - Australian favourite Peter Bol also crashes out.
10:58 AM BST
Thiam and KJT jump well
Thiam is easily over her first high jump attempt of 1.80m - this is her strongest event, her PB of 2.02m would’ve been enough for gold in this year’s open high jump event.
KJT is next, and nails a 1.80 to boost her points score to 978 and 2043 overall.
10:54 AM BST
Sign of the times...
There is a sign of the times. In a discipline historically dominated by the USA and Jamaica (with occasional contributions from GB) China have just won the second heat of the 4x100 relay.
Admittedly their time of 38.24 was considerably slower than the British four’s 38.04 that gifted them third place in the other heat, but that was a significant run by the Chinese.
It is a suggestion it won’t be long before they are dominating Olympic sprinting in the manner they already do in diving and table tennis.
10:49 AM BST
4x100m heat 2 - Jamaica crash out!
Featuring Jamaica and France, as well as Canada being anchored Andre De Grasse...
And there are some terrible changeovers from the Jamaicans as France qualify alongside France and China! Jamaica finish fourth, changeover two took an age, and the third was perilously close to being dropped. It left them with too much to do and they finish fourth...
They fail to qualify!! Wow, disaster for Jamaica!
10:45 AM BST
KJT nails first jump
A simple start for KJT, easing over her 1.77m opener to secure a minimum of 941 points from the high jump. That’s the joint highest in the field, leaving her in a provisional fourth with room for immediate improvement.
10:43 AM BST
Phil Foden the key to a medal?
Great Britain’s men have joined their women in the final of the 4x100 relay. What a race that was, up against the Olympic champions Italy and USA, Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran brilliantly to post a season’s best 38.04 seconds.
On the line, they were beaten to second place by the South Africans on a photo finish.
Meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark plays out over the stadium speakers. With its insistence that you can’t start a fire without a spark, maybe it is a hint to suggest Britain add Phil Foden to the quartet for the final.
10:42 AM BST
GB qualify... just
The USA run away with it, GB’s Mitchell-Blake taking the baton in the last leg in third behind Japan, overtaking them but being overtaken by South Africa’s Akani Simbine who runs a really fast split. South Africa were in fifth but finish second.
It means GB qualify automatically, alongside the US and South Africa. Japan and Italy face a nervous wait now...
10:37 AM BST
GB women 4x100m have medal chance
Even without their two best runners, Dina Asher Smith and Darryl Neita, the British four of Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt, Imani Lansiquot and Bianca Williams won the second heat of the women’s 4x100 with aplomb.
It was tough group they were in, but thanks to some sleek and smooth handovers, uncharacteristic for a British four, they posted 42.03 just behind the American time from the first heat of 41.94. France and Jamaica was trailing in the wake of the European champions, who looked really good.
Given the Americans still bettered their time despite behaving like a DHL delivery driver and almost dropping the baton, it suggests silver might be the British quartets best hope in the final. But that was a superb run. And they have turbocharge to add in the shape of Asher Smith and Neita.
Men’s 4x100m to come...
10:37 AM BST
GB in men’s 4x100m
Alongside Italy and the USA. No Noah Lyles as expected, but Tokyo 100m champion Marcell Lamont Jacobs is second up for the Italians.
GB’s team is as follows: Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
10:34 AM BST
Chari Hawkins out
American Chari Hawkins has failed all three attempts of her 1.71m high jump attempt in the heptathlon, and is in tears as that will all but rule her out from winning a medal despite a 1100 point score in the hurdles. No dramas elsewhere as of yet though, KJT yet to jump.
Jade O’Dowda registers a 1.74m 903 point opening jump, so whatever happens next she has a competitive score given her PB is 1.86m.
10:29 AM BST
GB win 4x100m heat
From France, then Jamaica, a seamless heat, faultless changeovers. Anchor Desiree Henry fought off some serious French interest to win, Jamaica trailing by a decent margin in third. A 42.03 is the second fastest time, USA leading with 41.94.
Belgium and Ivory Coast disqualified from the first heat which improves Australia’s chances of qualification...
But the Netherlands and Canada go quicker and are the fastest losers so dark horses Australia crash out!
10:21 AM BST
GB in 4x100m heat two
Alongside reigning champions Jamaica - albeit missing big names like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shakari Jackson from that winning squad - and France.
Britain in lane seven - the team is, in order, Bianca Williams, Imam Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Desiree Henry.
10:18 AM BST
KJT high jump
Will need improvement here. Her PB is a very competitive 1.98m but she hasn’t breached the 1.86m mark this season.
10:17 AM BST
Too close for comfort for USA 4x100m
Well that was fun. The Americans completely messed up the exchange between their second and third runners, but still managed to win by applying the afterburners on the last leg.
They qualify with Germany and Switzerland. Australia came fifth and will have to wait and see what happens next.
10:16 AM BST
Heptathlon high jump under-way.
The high jump round of the heptathlon begins.
There are two groups of jumpers, going simultaneously over two bars. Group B is the one to watch, however, as it contain not only the two Brits but also the world number one Anna Hall of the USA and the reigning Olympic champion, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam.
Meanwhile the 100m relay teams are lining up for the women’s heat. The first three in each heat, plus the next two fastest will qualify for the final. Great Britain go in the second heat. So we can all relax watching this first one.
Not if you’re from the USA!
10:15 AM BST
Women’s 4x100m heat one
USA the favourites in lane 6, opting for what is likely their final squad. 100m silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson to anchor, with bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson to lead out.
Three go through automatically and it’s USA from Germany from Switzerland. USA survive an awful second handover, Gabby Thomas charging out too early, they changed just in time with disqualification looming perilously close - it will be reviewed.
It gave Germany a lead into the last leg but Richardson left her for dust in the final leg to gain an unconvincing win.
10:10 AM BST
Shot puters struggling
It feels odd to say given that my shoulders are more suited to typing but this has been been a disappointing morning in the shot put. There’s an automatic qualification mark of 18.45m, but many are failing to throw past the 18m mark.
Nonetheless, Saunders throws an 18.62 that should see her through, so more masked action to come...
10:01 AM BST
Double world champion out
Double world champion shot puter Chase Jackson is quite far off the mark on her third throw - two fouls and a 17.60m means she won’t qualify down in 17th.
09:59 AM BST
Raven Saunders
A poor sub 18-throw leaves the charismatic American well below the qualification threshold - she has one throw to rescue her Olympic fortunes.
09:56 AM BST
Final 100m hurdles repechage
The Bahamas’ Denisha Cartwright, who posts the fastest times in the lineup, flies out the blocks but smashes the third hurdle so falls behind. Finland’s Lotta Harala and Japan’s Tanaka Yumi are the ones to qualify - say what you will about the repechages but the athletes are absolutely delighted to qualify, it means a lot to them.
09:49 AM BST
Shot puters superhuman
In the middle of the field at Stade de France, the qualification for the women’s shot put is going on. There are two throwing zones, from which the throwers need to gain a distance of over 19 metres to progress to the final.
And that is one heck of a long way, further than most of us could chuck a tennis ball. So far only two women have managed it, Sarah Mitton of Canada and Maddison-Lee Wesche of New Zealand.
09:48 AM BST
Women’s 100m hurdles repechage two
Featuring home favourite Laeticia Bapte, but she won’t proceed as she narrowly trails a three-way photo finish, a great race.
More tears, this time for Finland’s national record holder Reetta Hurske, as her Olympic journey ends by a whisker - 0.002 seconds in fact. Liberia’s Ebony Morrison and Ecuador’s Maribel Vanessa Caicedo qualify.
09:43 AM BST
Shot put starts
The women’s shot put has started, and America’s Raven Saunders is the last of 16 in group B to go, wearing a face mask and sunglasses - she fouls. Standby for a photo of her outfit...
09:41 AM BST
Women’s 100m repechages
South Africa’s Marione Fourie and the Netherlands’ Maayke Tjin-A-Lim are through the first heat, Slovakia’s Viktoria Forster is beaten in the dip by the Dutch-woman and leaves the stadium in tears. No best losers by virtue of time with the repechages, just two go through from each race.
09:37 AM BST
KJT eighth
This is the heat the home fans were waiting for. Auriana Lazraq-Klass the home hope and a woman whose surname would sweep the board in Scrabble, gets a roar of support. But it is the Swiss Annik Kaelin who really sets pulses racing with a superb time of 12.87, accruing her 1144 points, twenty more than anyone else thus far.
The Frenchwoman meanwhile, trots in last on 13.54, earning her 1044. It means after the first event, KJT is in eighth, O’Dowda 14th. Plenty of time, and events, to go.
09:31 AM BST
4x100m men running up
Looks like Louie Hinchliffe, Jeremiah Azu, Richard Kilty, and I think Zharnel Hughes will be running.
09:27 AM BST
Strong 3rd heat
Quickest of the heats, 1144 points going to the winner Annik Kaelin of Switzerland who runs a personal best 12.87. The USA’s Taliyah Brooks runs 13.00 dead despite hitting a hurdle, and there are a further three who break the 1100 mark.
Anna Hall is tipped as a favourite for the event and has the strongest 100m hurdles PB of the pack, but is through in sixth as her post-operation struggles continue.
Still faster than KJT, who like Thiam professes that her hurdling isn’t the strongest aspect of her game. She places eighth after a completed first round.
09:21 AM BST
Sophie Weissenberg out
Heartbreak for the German, who withdraws with an injury in her warmup on track - four years of hard work for a moment like that is really tough to watch.
09:18 AM BST
Heat 2 of Heptathlon 100m hurdles
It’s a stacked heat containing all three medallists from Tokyo, and they come through with a leading time of 13.41 from the Netherlands’ Emma Oosterwegel.
Favourite Thiam is through in fifth in 13.56 to score 1041 - encouraging start for KJT but Thiam’s strong suit has never been the hurdles so she’ll be pleased with 1000 points.
09:13 AM BST
KJT has good start
Excellent start in a tough first event for KJT, crossing the line second in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.41 - that’s a season’s best which suggest she’s recovered from her tough time in the World Championships in Rome in June, and is a quicker time than she ran on the way to her world championship title last year.
Jade O’Dowda comes through in third, coming from behind to run a 13.53. That earns her 1046 points, whilst KJT takes 1065 - they both trail new leader Adrianna Sulek-Schubert of Poland whose 13.32 earns her 1077 points.
The heptathlon isn’t a culmination of who wins the most races given its amalgamation of track and field, rather points accumulated according to certain time, height, distance thresholds - anything in the 13 second mark is worth 1000 points, which is a good score to aim for in any event. Great start for both Britons.
Good clean start for KJT, smooth, efficient, controlled in her running, she finished second at 13.40, a time she will consider decent. After all, she was slower when she won the world championship.
Jade O’Dowda is third on 13.53. A good start for both Brits.
09:07 AM BST
Britain’s fortunes so far
KJT’s injury in Tokyo was another of a long list of British close calls, a theme that has continued in Paris despite the inspiring start to the athletics courtesy of Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m victory - she has since stated her world record aspirations.
However, the going has been tough and gold-less since, Josh Kerr suffering a shock defeat to Cole Hocker, Dina Asher-Smith denied a medal by a photo finish, and Matthew Hudson-Smith being pipped to the post in the 400m last night.
08:58 AM BST
What else is on
The heptathlon 100m hurdles, in which KJT and O’Dowda are both competing in the first heat, gets the morning under-way before the women’s shot put and 110m hurdles repechages - there are no British hopefuls in the former and Britain’s Cindy Semper has already qualified for the next round of the hurdles, so can steer clear of the controversial repechage format.
We’re then back to the heptathlon for the high jump, before the 4x100m heats get under-way for the women - keep an eye out for Great Britain running in heat two, in the same heat as Jamaica but in the one after the USA.
Britain are running in the first heat of the men’s 4x100m in the lane next to favourites USA. The morning is then closed by the men’s 800m repechages, but all three of Britain’s hopefuls Max Burgin, Ben Pattison, and Elliot Giles are all already through.
08:48 AM BST
KJT hoping to put injury woes behind her en route to gold
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the third-to-last day of track and field action at the Stade de France as the morning tees us up for five medals in this evening’s session.
Teeing us up for medals tomorrow, however, is the beginning of the women’s heptathlon, starring Great Britain’s Jade O’Dowda and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the latter one of Britain’s biggest medal hopefuls in athletics as she reaches the climax of an illustrious, but Olympic medal-less, 12 year senior career.
Having emerged from British great Jessica Ennis-Hill’s sizeable shadow after a sixth placed finish in 2016, her Tokyo Olympics were hamstrung by injury as she pulled out with a calf injury despite going into the Games as reigning world champion.
Aged 31, Paris could be her last chance to secure a coveted Olympic medal to add the crown jewel to a formidable career that boasts numerous Commonwealth golds and indoor and outdoor world championship victories - including in 2023. She is, however, heading into the event off the back of an injury-hampered season, pulling out of the European championships in Rome in June - the tournament was eventually won by double Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam from Belgium. KJT had started those championships in underwhelimg form before pulling out, and will need a strong start in this morning’s 100m hurdles and high jump if she is to trouble the Belgian.
