Multi Events - State of Play

[trickstat]

Good point about Holly Mills - until 2019 she only really dabbled in the Combined Events. Until then she was basically a long jumper who was a decent hurdler and high jumper.

[Ladyloz]

I thought the link up with Aston Moore was permanent. He has a jumps background so hopefully can get her back towards a really good level there. I am not expecting 1.98/6.95 again but getting back over 1.90 and 6.50 regularly would be great.

Agree some additional input would be good, whilst Moore got some excellent results with Sotherton her javelin actually got worse.

[Walsh7]

As I have said on many occasions, KJT is a confidence athlete. She relies on good results in practice and in competitions, to give her the confidence to build more successes. Her 2019 season is the perfect example. She led that season from start to finish. There is no doubt that KJT is near the end when it comes to winning medals at
major competitions. She's had zero successes in 2022. Winning the CG with a score of 6,377 could give her the confidence that she needs during the final few years of her career. KJT needs victories like this one in order to keep that tiny flicker of hope alive.

[jjimbojames]

There would have been more in the JEH/KJT overlap, but KJT normally had one event (HJ, LJ) let her down or her throws were truly dire - she’s usually been one or two events away from excellent, and then it comes together and she smashes it!

[jjimbojames]

JOD - lovely girl, has quietly worked her way through the ranks over the age groups
HM - I suspect we will hear there has been an issue this time round, but let’s not forget how new she is to this - most learn their trade through the schools CE ranks and the EA champs etc - she’s not had those opportunities to learn by struggling. This is good experience and a reminder that raw talent does not often translate straight into a CE’er
KJT - this year is all about can she cope mentally. I agree the score will not be great and the coaching situation needs sorting - but it was hopeful to think she’d come out fighting for WC/EC gold. Shy of he who shall not be named (still no update on him??), we don’t have many pure CE coaches in the UK. I’d love for her to be back in France, but failing that, I actually think Kat should be looking at input from several coaches - I would hope Aston would reach out to eg Backley and ask him to come and give the tips he mentioned

[MR_ME]

All I would add is that KJT produced a very similar score to take gold in 2018, and then went on to have the best two seasons of her career. I think she will hit the 6700s again in much the same way that Jessica E did towards the end of her career. That should be enough for an olympic medal.

[SprintRelayFan]

I don't entirely agree it'll mean nothing - it'll show she's more robust mentally than previously but agree it doesn't necessarily indicate that 6900 or 6.70/1.98 are on the cards.

[MysteryBrick]

So, when it comes to best of best, remember that KJT's PB has only been bettered by Thiam once.

But as to how often they are at their best, Thiam is ahead by a country mile, and KJT was only definitively better for one year (2019).

[marilyn1]

The sad thing I see here we have this fan worship which has no rational ba
sis. If KJT wins tonight it means little at such a small total.
When did she last jump in the high and long jumps the sort of performances of some years ago... six years ago she jumped 1.98. That's a while ago.The CG has very poor athletes in the Hep at the moment.There seems to be a view that she will compete at 6900 level next year. No evidence yet. Too many coaches maybe

[SprintRelayFan]

I think Thiam was also injured or coming back from injury in eugene no? To me Kat is a great athlete, but Thiam is one of the top 5 or better all time.

[marilyn1]

As to your remarks as to the last couple of years, ,what has KJT done in Covid time and she was injured badly in the last year.

[marilyn1]

i suspect emerson will reemerge at gotzis this year, mills is emerging as a strong 3rd option too, hope kat can haqve an injury free year and pick up a couple of golds in the summer, at her best, she is better than thiam and has been for the last couple of years

Nonsense. Thiam is a double OG champion. She was injured in Doha. In addition, she scores in shot and jav where KJT is dreadful.. your memory seems to have slipped and has forgotten KJTs drama of LJ misery.

[trickstat]

I think the 2007 Worlds is the only worldwide outdoor champs where we had 2 heptathletes in medal contention throughout the event (Sotherton 3rd, Ennis 4th). There were other Champs where we had 2 people who could be considered contenders. I think 2004 (Lewis defending title DNFs Sotherton surprise medal) and 2016 are examples.

[RunUnlimited]

On Emerson, before a hamstring injury ended her comeback in Arona earlier this year, she high jumped 1.85m and had some very close attempts at 1.89m, in her first official high jumps in competition in 3 years. That shows how much natural talent she has.

O'Dowda finished a creditable 7th place (5660 points) in the same World U20 heptathlon that Emerson won gold in so memorably in Tampere 2018, and she has quietly developed into a really good all rounder, under the radar. I think things changed for her with how she competed at the Combined Events Champs in May, and especially when she produced that 45m javelin PB. Suddenly, her decent hurdling, solid high jump, improving shot and long jump was given greater weight. Add some more basic speed in you have a pretty darned good multi eventer.

Also include Seren Rodgers as another potential heptathlete to come through, after her efforts in the EU18's last month.

[MysteryBrick]

It's almost always the case that greater depth also leads to greater top end, due to people having to push to make teams and also just more darts at the board. Really hopeful we see this, as even though we've had such great exponents over the years in Lewis, (Sotherton), Ennis-Hill, KJT, they've usually been flying the flag solo.