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Ennis wins Gold but Mo Farah steals the show

Jessica Ennis has just put the cream on a wonderful large cake by claiming Gold in the Heptathalon beating her closest rival Dobrynska in the 800 Metres but for me Mo Farah stole the show today by becoming double European champion at 5,000 and 1000 metres. It left me with a lump in my throat and pride in what he has given up to become the champion he is. Simply sensational.

How exciting have this year’s European Athletics in Barcelona been for UK Athletics and its followers?

It all began on day one with the 10,000 metres success with Mo “knows how to run” Farrah (28:24.99) and Chris Thompson (28:27.33) claimed Gold and Silver. It seemed to buoy the Great Britain squad pushing them to perform to their best, and often beyond, to bring home a huge collection of medals.

The only negative outcome from today was the performance from the Men and Women in the 4 by 100 metre relays, the guys putting in an absolutely shocking performance. Sitting comfortably in first place rounding the final bend, a mix up of monumental proportions between Mark Lewis-Francis, (who won silver in the 100m) and Marlon Devonish. Team GB could only finish fifth in their heat and failed to qualify for the final. An emotional Lewis-Franics told the BBC

“This is my fault, I’ve let the guys down,”. “Wow, it’s such a big blow. I apologise sincerely to all the guys, I just cannot believe that happened.”

Ennis ran 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 18 seconds, 2.12sec ahead of second-placed Ukrainian Dobrynska, to rack up a championship record 6,823 points total falling just eight points short of Denise Lewis’s British record.

“It’s been nerve-wracking having all the athletes on my heels,” admitted a jubilant Ennis.

“It feels so good …

Jessica Ennis starts well in Barcelona

Ennis clocks the fastest time in heats with 12.95 secsGold medal hope Jessica Ennis continued the strong British showing in Barcelona with the fastest time in Heptathalon’s 100m hurdles. The Sheffield born hept-athlete clocked a time of 12.95 seconds in the third heat with Jennifer Oeser of Germany second quickest with a time of 13.37 seconds.

The sub 13 second run gave her 1132 points with Oeser on 1070 points.

It wasn’t the smoothest of heats with fellow competitors Tatyana Chernova and Linda Zublin guilty of a false start in the third heat which meant that athlete committing another transgression would be disqualified.

Tatyana Chernova, who has been widely touted as the Briton’s closest rival for Gold looked out of sorts and could only manage a time of 13.73 seconds.

Jessica is the current world heptathlon and world indoor pentathlon champion.

Following her heat Ennis said:

It felt OK, there was a bit of a headwind, it was a good start, I’d like to have run a bit quicker.”

With the recent virus behind her it appears to have had no affect on her speed, her stamina and strength will be severely tested over the next 48 hours as she aims to add a third title to her belt.…