Paris Olympics: Strong start for Liverpool's Katarina Johnson-Thomspson as she leads heptathlon

Katarina Johnson Thompson is off to an incredible start in the women's heptathlon. Credit: PA Images

Katarina Johnson Thompson is off to an incredible start in the women's heptathlon in Paris after sitting first place following the 100m hurdles and the high jump.

The reigning world champion, who is continuing to nurse a tendonitis issue, set a season's best of 13.40 seconds in the hurdles.

The 30-year-old, from Liverpool, then moved up from eighth place overall with a jump of 1.92 metres, also her best this year.

The high jump came down to a tense battle between Johnson-Thompson and the defending Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam from Belgium, who was perfect until the bar was raised to 1.95 metres but then failed on all three attempts.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson set a season’s best of 13.40 seconds in the hurdles. Credit: PA Images

Johnson-Thompson, who had needed a couple of attempts to clear the bar at 1.86, 1.89 and 1.92 metres, pulled out of her first attempt before falling short on the next two.

It meant Johnson-Thompson leads with 2197 points after two events, with Thiam on 2173.

American Anna Hall, the favourite, had looked off the pace in the hurdles, one of her stronger events, but a season’s best jump of 1.89 metres moved her up to third place overall with 2164.

Johnson-Thompson’s team-mate Jade O’Dowda sits in ninth after maxing out at 1.80 metres in the high jump with 2024 points.

The shot put and the 200m are the remaining events on day one of the women’s heptathlon at the Stade de France.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson during the Women's Heptathlon High Jump. Credit: PA Images

Team GB advanced to the final of the women’s 4x100m as Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Desiree Henry held off a late charge from the French to win their heat.

Even without Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, expected to come in for the final, Team GB’s time of 42.03 seconds was second only to the United States, who won their heat in a time of 41.94 despite a poor handover between Twanisha Terry and Gabrielle Thomas at the mid-point of the race.

The men’s team were in a tighter battle as Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake finished third in their heat, running a season’s best 38.04 but beaten to second place by South Africa in a photo finish.

In a shock result in the second heat, Jamaica failed to advance after a series of poor changeovers left them in fourth place behind China, France and Canada.