After missing the world trials last month it seemed touch-and-go whether world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis would be able to compete at next week’s World Indoors in Doha.
Last night she announced that she in fact will be on the plane to Qatar, hoping to maintain her impressive season that has already seen her break six personal best performances. This included the new UK hurdles record that she set in Glasgow earlier in the year.
Now Ennis has said she will be in the best possible shape for the competition, unperturbed by the 10 days she has missed from training. “I don’t think I have missed much,” she said. “A bit of a rest is no bad thing.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Related stories
Heptathlon: Ennis voted European Athlete of the month
Athletics: Ennis starts year in spectacular form
2010 European Athletics Championships
…………………………………………………………………………………………
It had initially seemed that a foot injury would keep her from any competition. It was in the same leg that caused her to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics, and it was feared that she may have aggravated the same multiple stress fractures.
But she insists training is on course. She said, “I’ve been running flat out, hurdling, jumping, doing everything and it’s fine.
“I’m back in full training and I don’t feel like I’ve lost any fitness.”
The injury is still a setback however, and Ennis was forced to miss not only the world trials but also the recent British Grand Prix in Birmingham. Both would have been great preparation for the World Indoors, where Ennis is hoping to add to world heptathlon gold she won in Berlin last year.
Ennis admitted, “I wanted to compete a little bit more before Doha. I wanted continuity and to train a little bit more.
“I had to make some changes but I’m nearly there and happy and ready to go to Doha.”
The World Indoor Championships begin Friday 12th March 2010
Rachel Stansfield, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
