Johnson-Thompson faces battle to overhaul Thiam in European heptathlon
Johnson-Thompson is still in the hunt for another major medal in 2018.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson sits second heading into heptathlon’s 800 metres showdown after losing her lead at the European Championships.
The 25-year-old remains in contention for gold at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin ahead of the final 800m on Friday evening but must finish 14 seconds ahead of Olympic champion Nafi Thiam.
She held an overnight lead of 87 points over world champion Thiam and extended it after recording the biggest long jump of 6.68m.
The Belgium, who is superior in the javelin, threw 57.91m with Johnson-Thompson recording a personal best of 42.16m in her weakest event.
Johnson-Thompson – who won the World Indoor pentathlon title and the Commonwealth Games heptathlon crown – has a personal best eight seconds faster than Thiam in the 800m.
She needs to beat Thiam by 14 seconds to take top spot – and beat her by 13 seconds in the 800m at last year’s World Championships.
Great Britain team-mate Laura Muir breezed into Sunday’s 1500m final after winning her heat.
The Scot – the overwhelming favourite for title – clocked four minutes 09.12 seconds to win her heat.
Muir is searching for her first outdoor title and is already the reigning 1500m indoor champion.
She said: “I have won world indoor medals but there is nothing like winning the title – or an outdoor medal as well. I have come so close over the last few years so to win a medal would be great, and to win a title would be amazing.
“I have been in medal contention before and in the mix but not necessarily number one. But nothing is guaranteed.
Muir will be joined by team-mate Weightman in the final but training partner Jemma Reekie mised out.
The men’s 4x400m relay squad of Cameron Chalmers, Dwayne Cowan, Rabah Yousif and Martyn Rooney reached their final after winning heat one.
The women – Zoey Clark, Finette Agyapong, Mary Abichi and Emily Diamond – qualified second fastest behind Italy.
In the hammer, Sophie Hitchon – who won bronze at the Rio Olympics – squeezed into the final after failing to make the qualifying distance of 70m. She threw 68.69 but managed to finish in the top 12.
The evening sessions sees Dina Asher-Smith – who won the 100m on Tuesday – continue her treble bid in the 200m semi-final.
Andy Pozzi aims to make the 110m hurdles final, Matt Hudson-Smith runs in the 400m final and Charlie Grice, Jack Wightman and Chris O’Hare are all competing for the the men’s 1500m title.
Adelle Tracey, Lynsey Sharp and Shelayna Oskan-Clarke run in the 800m final.
