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Katarina Johnson-Thompson defends Commonwealth Games heptathlon title

Katarina Johnson-Thompson defends Commonwealth Games heptathlon title
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Katarina Johnson-Thompson successfully defends her Commonwealth Games heptathlon title with a total of 6377 points in Birmingham.

Defending Commonwealth Games heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson successfully retained her title in Birmingham with a total of 6377 points on Wednesday.

Johnson-Thompson led by 136 points ahead of Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor before the final event after recording a 6.33m long jump and posting a personal best javelin score of 44.33m earlier on Wednesday.

Despite struggling with injuries and ceding her world heptathlon title before the Birmingham games, the 29-year-old managed to retain her Commonwealth crown by a healthy margin.

Johnson-Thompson started in lane four as compatriot Holly Mills stormed to the front of the pack early doors, with O'Connor sandwiched in between the English pair as Jade O'Dowda also came up the rear.

There was no catching Mills as she eased to the win in the 800m, but Johnson-Thompson paced well at the end and edged out O'Connor and O'Dowda to finish second with a season's best of 2:13.93, which won her 908 points.

A dominant race from Mills saw her cross the line with 2:11.42 on the clock, while O'Dowda was a mere 0.07 seconds off Johnson-Thompson in third place.

O'Dowda's 6212 points was enough for the English athlete to take the third and final podium spot, with O'Connor clinching the silver medal with 6233.

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