Tough battle awaits Ennis after rivals refuse to let her pull clear

JESSICA Ennis admits she faces the fight of her life to add the European title to her world gold after being tracked every step of the way by Ukraine's Nataliya Dobrynska in Barcelona.

Ennis opened her campaign in ominous fashion scorching to the top of the standings after clocking 12.95seconds in the 100m hurdles at the Olympic Stadium.

The 24-year-old, who claimed the world title in Berlin last year, extended her overall lead to 134 points after proving herself as the only athlete capable of clearing 1.89m in the high jump.

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But Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska reduced her lead to 11 points after the shot put and although Ennis exacted revenge on the Ukrainian in the 200m she insists gold is far from secure.

"I came here knowing that it wasn't going to be easy and everyone is pushing me every step of the way – especially Dobrynska," said Ennis, who clocked 23.22seconds in the sprint to end the day 110 points clear.

"I was really pleased with my 200m and it was a bit quicker than Berlin last year as well. I was pleased with the shot put as well to get over 14m.

"I left it until the last throw and that had my heart going a bit and I have to stop putting myself under that pressure.

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"I am well set up for Saturday but it is only half-way and Dobrynska looks in great form so there is still plenty for me to do.

"I need to put in a solid long jump and then hopefully that will set me up for the rest of the day."

Ennis's hurdles time earned her a whopping 1132 points and opened up an early gap between herself and the second-quickest athlete, Jennifer Oeser of Germany.

Rivals Dobrynska, Tatiana Chernova and Oeser all cleared season's bests of 1.83m in the high jump to apply the first real pressure on Ennis – but the world indoor and outdoor champion responded in style.

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After sailing over the same height Ennis left the bar wobbling, but still standing, at 1.86m before soaring over 1.89m to top the standings for the second event running.

However, with Dobrynska cutting into her lead in the evening with a shot put throw of 15.88m compared to Ennis's 14.05m, the City of Sheffield hepthatlete admitted she was looking for more out of the morning session.

"I would have liked to have gone faster in the hurdles but it was an okay start," added Ennis.

"I felt quite good and it was nice to have some first time clearances in the high jump but I would have liked to have jumped in the 90's.

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"The heptathlon is usually at the start of the week which I like – it's been a bit weird just sitting around and waiting to go this time."

Meanwhile Sheffield's Hatti Dean shattered her lifetime best but narrowly missed out on securing a surprise medal in the 3000m steeplechase final – coming home fourth.

Dean turned on the gas on the final lap to pick off Poland's Wioletta Frankiewicz and push Russian Lyubov Kharlamova all the way to the bronze medal spot.

"I just can't believe how I ran, it was so much more than I expected," said Dean, who took almost eight seconds off her lifetime best to clock 9:30.19minutes.

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"I didn't think I was in it for a bronze until about halfway through and even then I wasn't sure but I know now that other people are tiring as well."

Elsewhere Dewsbury's 200m sprinter Emily Freeman vowed to draw on the positives after missing out on the European final by the narrowest of margins.

The 29-year-old ran a season's best 23.21seconds to finish fifth in her semi-final and despite clocking the same time as the eighth and final qualifier, France's Veronique Mang, missed out on the final.

"I am disappointed not to be running fast enough to make the final but I have had a tough year," said Wakefield Harriers' Freeman.

n Aviva's support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best. Watch the Aviva GB & NI Team live in action at the Aviva London Grand Prix.

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