Kate O'Connor fourth with two heptathlon events remaining in Tokyo
By Rachel Steinberg, PA, Tokyo
Ireland's Kate O'Connor lies in fourth place, behind Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson, with two heptathlon events remaining at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Heading into Saturday evening’s javelin throw and 800-metre race in the field is led by American pair Anna Hall, on 5,041 points, and Taliyah Brooks, with 4,930. Johnson-Thompson has 4,874 points.
Kate O’Connor is 50 points behind Johnson-Thompson after the morning session’s long jump.
Nafi Thiam has – according to reports in her home country of Belgium – decided to withdraw from the competition, where she had been sitting eighth.
Thiam’s pre-championship build-up had been marred by a row with her federation.
She told Belgian newspaper DH Les Sports+: “It was difficult from the beginning. I tried to fight, to go through these difficulties, but clearly it does not follow. I have trouble explaining it myself.
“Clearly my body is not happy. I don’t want to do anything stupid, because I think that now, finishing would be for the principle.”
