Chernova wins heptathlon gold after Ennis woe

Russian Tatyana Chernova plucked the world heptathlon crown from Jessica Ennis Tuesday after a woeful display of javelin throwing by the Briton. After two gruelling days of the seven-discipline event, Chernova amassed 6,880 points, with Ennis taking silver (6,751pts) and Germany's Jennifer Oeser claiming bronze (6,572). Chernova timed 13.32sec in the 100m hurdles, managed bests of 1.83m and 14.17m in the high jump and shot put, clocked 23.50sec in the 200m, leapt a best of 6.61m in the long jump, and crucially threw the javelin to 52.95m. That javelin performance allowed Chernova to leapfrog Ennis, who only managed a poor best of 39.95m, going into the final event, the 800m. The points difference Chernova accrued with the crushing javelin difference handed her a 9sec cushion and knowledge that only a catastrophe would stop her claiming gold in the tough two-day, multi-discipline event. "It's disappointing," said Ennis, who has been made the "face" of next year's Olympic Games in London by organisers. "It was the javelin. The hurdles were average, but yeah, it was just the javelin. That's what lets me down. Every time I did it I felt like my foot was slipping. "But it's still a medal. I thought it was going to be tough this year." Chernova was left delighted by her display. "I made a personal best," the Russian beamed. "I am the winner. I was in full spirits, I'm in good shape, and I have gained confidence here at the world champs. I just feel so happy. "As for Ennis, well I did well in certain events and I think that was a psychological blow. The javelin is my strongest field event and Ennis didn't do so well." Ennis predictably bolted out in the 800m and completed the first lap in a fast 1:00.88, but Chernova, whose personal best is 2sec quicker than the Briton's, sat comfortably in second tracking her. Ennis was caught by Poland's Karolina Tyminska with 200m to go, and Chernova produced a spurt to finish on the Briton's spikes and guarantee a new world champion. Germany's Oeser won a four-way battle for the final spot on the podium, finishing just 28pts ahead of Tyminska, with Ukraine's Natallia Dobrynska just a further 5pts adrift.