Heptathletes separated by single centimetre as Olympic champ breaks Belgian best for Diamond League victory ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Ivana Španović

The clash between Nafissatou Thiam and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in Doha in six and a half weeks’ time looks even more mouthwatering after the pair were separated by just a single centimetre in an exciting Müller Grand Prix long jump competition in Birmingham.

They might have been competing in just one event rather than their usual seven, but the head-to-head at the Alexander Stadium whet the appetite ahead of October’s global battle, when Olympic champion Thiam will look to retain her heptathlon title at the IAAF World Championships and Johnson-Thompson will seek outdoor victory to go with her world indoor win.

On a blustery day featuring sunshine and showers, the two heptathletes lined up alongside long jump specialists including world indoor champion Ivana Španović and Brits Abigail Irozuru and Lorraine Ugen, and they more than held their own.

Thiam opened with 6.44m (+0.1m/sec) which placed her third at the end of the first round as Španović leapt into an early lead with 6.70m (+0.2m/sec) and Johnson-Thompson recorded a foul.

The next round saw Thiam soar out to 6.74m (-0.3m/sec), breaking her own Belgian record, but Serbia’s Španović responded by going four centimetres further into a -1.8m/sec headwind. There was a second foul for Johnson-Thompson, but the Briton turned things around with her next jump.

After watching Thiam further improve her national record to 6.86m (+0.9m.sec), Johnson-Thompson launched herself out to 6.74m (-0.9m/sec) while Španović recorded 6.85m which would prove to be the Olympic and world bronze medallist’s best of the competition.

Johnson-Thompson wasn’t done, however, as she saved her best leap until last and soared out to 6.85m (+0.4m/sec) to match Španović’s mark and place third on countback.

The jump was Johnson-Thompson’s best since 2015 when she set her PB of 6.93m indoors and would score 1122 points in a heptathlon, just three points off Thiam’s 1125 for 6.86m.

Just behind her in fourth was Irozuru, who was pleased to have achieved the world championships qualifying mark having been just two centimetres off it at the European Team Championships.

Ugen finished seventh with 6.61m.

“It was a really good competition,” said Thiam, who will celebrate her 25th birthday in Birmingham before returning home on Monday.

“It gives me confidence because of the performance I had.

“Being first or second didn’t matter. Španović was 6.85m, so only one centimetre difference. It was great to be in competition with jumpers and with Kat and we’re always really pushing each other.”

Johnson-Thompson was also pleased with her own performance and said: “I haven’t jumped that far in a long time and I’m really happy with that showing.

“It spurs me on going up against her (Thiam) in an individual format like today.”

The women’s 200m had also been highly anticipated as another world championships warm-up, with a stellar field taking to the track.

Britain’s triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith lined up alongside Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, two-time world champion Dafne Schippers, current world No.2 Blessing Okagbare and US champion Dezerea Bryant.

Asher-Smith got a strong start but Miller-Uibo used her power to pass the British record-holder down the home straight, with the Bahamian clocking 22.24 (+0.4m/sec) ahead of Asher-Smith’s 22.36, as Fraser-Pryce finished third in 22.50, Schippers fourth in 22.81 and Okagbare fifth in 22.83.

“I am really happy to have finished second in that race although having said that, I am a competitor so obviously I want to win every race!” said Asher-Smith.

“To maintain my form and finish strongly against arguably the best 400m runner in the world is good. So, all in all, I am happy with that race.”

Bryant ran 22.84 in sixth, having earlier finished as runner-up in the non-Diamond League 100m in 11.21 (-0.9m/sec) behind Germany’s fast-finishing Tatjana Pinto.

USA’s Teahna Daniels was third in 11.24, while Rachel Miller was the leading Briton in sixth in 11.42, as Kimbely Baptiste ran 11.71 in seventh and Bianca Williams 11.77 in eighth.

Britain’s T38 world record-holder and Paralympic champion Sophie Hahn won the women’s T35-38 100m in 12.67 ahead of world long jump champion Olivia Breen in 13.28.

Over in the Millicent Fawcett mile Konstanze Klosterhalfen broke the oldest women’s meeting record, which was Sonia O’Sullivan’s 4:24.27 recorded in Sheffield in 1992, with a German record of 4:21.11. The race was missing British 1500m record-holder Laura Muir due to a calf injury but her training partners Gabriela DeBues-Stafford and Jemma Reekie were both in action and they respectively clocked 4:22.47 in second and a PB of 4:27.00 in sixth.

Eilish McColgan placed third in a PB of 4:24.71.

Another meeting record fell in the 3000m steeplechase, with world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech winning in 9:05.55 as Britain’s Elizabeth Bird was 13th in 9:50.97, Rosie Clarke 15th in 9:54.25 and Aimee Pratt 16th in 9:58.68.

World leader Danielle Williams was almost a record-breaker, too, as she equalled the 100m hurdles best with 12.46 (-0.2m/sec) ahead of world record-holder Keni Harrison with 12.66.

Williams (12.53, +2.1m/sec) and Nia Ali (12.81, +0.5m/sec) had earlier been heat winners, with Harrison only placing fourth in her heat but advancing to the final thanks to her time of 12.93.

Britain’s Cindy Ofili, Heather Paton and Alicia Barrett had also raced in the heats, with Ofili clocking 13.15 and Paton 13.25 for sixth and seventh respectively in the marginally windy heat two and Barrett running 13.64 for eighth in heat one.

USA’s Ajee Wilson won the 800m in 2:00.76 as Britain’s Lynsey Sharp finished strongly for second in 2:01.09 and Alex Bell placed fifth in 2:02.41.

In tough conditions for pole vaulting, Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi secured success with a clearance of 4.75m and called it a day after one attempt at 4.85m.

British record-holder Holly Bradshaw finished sixth with 4.55m and was happy after having decided to use a 10-step approach.

World-leader Yaime Pérez claimed discus victory thanks to her third-round throw of 64.87m. That mark was enough to put her ahead of fellow Cuban and current world No.2 Denia Caballero (64.59m) and Croatia’s Sandra Perković (63.80m), who continues her comeback after injury.

Scotland's players must question how much they want to go to the World Cup after the "big wake-up call" of defeat by France, says scrum-half Ali Price.

Several players damaged their hopes of making Gregor Townsend's final squad of 31 as the Scots produced a dire performance to go down 32-3 in Nice.

The sides meet at Murrayfield on Saturday, and Price wants more desire.

"You have to realise who you are representing and ask how much do you want this," said Price.

"How much do you want to represent your country at a World Cup? Not many people get to do it and I feel like when your backs are against the wall a bit it's hard to remember that. You need to scrap and fight for everything.

"Defence is a mindset more than anything, you need to want to hit someone, want to put your body in front of someone. We just lacked a bit."

After falling 7-0 behind with just two minutes on the clock, the Scots never looked capable of finding a way back into the game.

Price admits the team have been guilty of rolling over in games when the going gets tough, such as the 27-10 Six Nations defeat by the same opposition in Paris back in February.

But he believes they can recover to build some confidence before the World Cup opener against Ireland on 22 September.

"We've come back from games like this before and we're at home next week in front of our own fans," said the Glasgow Warrior.

"We get another shot at France and then we roll into two Georgia games and try and gather some momentum.

"It's a wake-up call that we're not just going to roll into this World Cup and get us far as we want. We've got to want it and other teams have been working just as hard as us. There's lots to look at."

'It's a psychological barrier' - analysis

Scotland hooker Fraser Brown on Sportsound

We've now played in big internationals away from home where we've performed, but we've played in a lot more games away from home where we haven't performed and just failed to turn up.

It is mental, it's a psychological barrier, and it is something we'll need to find a way to get over as a players' group, as a leaders' group. Within the players' group it's something we need to enforce within the group. To be honest, at the minute, I'm not sure how we do it. The best way to do it is by winning games away from home.

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Mat Williamson outlasted a lengthy storm and a stacked field to earn a $100,000 payday Saturday night at Orange County Fair Speedway.

The 160-lap big-block modified race celebrated Orange County Fair Speedway’s 100th anniversary and featured the top big-block modified stars from the Northeast.

A storm struck the track early in the feature, forcing a lengthy rain delay. Once racing resumed it proved to be Williamson’s night.

The driver from St. Catherines, Ontario, dominated most of the race, but found himself locked in a late-race battle with Anthony Perrego for the lead. Perrego was able to steal the lead away on lap 129, but Williamson would not be denied.

With 13 laps left Williamson returned the favor on Perrego, slipping past him to regain the lead he had held for most of the night. One back out front Williamson appeared to be in control until runner-up Stewart Friesen slapped the turn one wall to bring out the caution with three laps left.

The green would wave for a three-lap shootout, but Williamson refused to be intimidated. He inched away from the resurgent Friesen, getting to the checkered flag first to earn the $100,000 paycheck.

Friesen settled for second, followed by Matt Sheppard, Danny Johnson and Billy Decker.

The finish:

Mat Williamson, Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Danny Johnson, Billy Decker, Jimmy Phelps, Justin Haers, Larry Wight, Chris Hile, Brian Krummel, Mike Mahaney, Anthony Perrego, Dillon Steuer, Mike Gular, Pete Britten, Pat Ward, Jerry Higbie, Marc Johnson, Jack Lehner, Jessica Friesen, Bob McGannon, Michael Storms, Gary Edwards, Tyler Boniface, Josh Hoenforst, Matt Hitchcock, Billy Pauch Jr., Brett Hearn, Erick Rudolph, Donnie Wilson, Jimmy Horton, Matt Janiak, Rich Eurich, Matt Hulsizer, Jackie Brown, Billy Pauch, Billy Dunn, Jeff Strunk, Craig Mitchell, Ryan Godown, Tim Fuller, Tyler Dippel, Tommy Meier.

ERIE, Pa. – Due to persistent rain over the last 24 hours around the Eriez Speedway area and a chance of more precipitation, track and World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series officials have been forced to cancel Sunday’s events.

The World of Outlaws action resumes Thursday, Aug. 29 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich., before the two-day Battle at the Border event at Sharon Speedway on Aug. 30-31.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Logan Seavey claimed the General Tire Pole Award for Sunday’s ARCA Menards Series Allen Crowe 100 presented by Lucas Oil at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Seavey’s fast lap of 33.466 seconds at 107.572 mph was nearly a half second quicker than teammate and defending race winner Christian Eckes.

Seavey made his ARCA debut at Springfield last season, finishing fourth, and won in his second career start at DuQuoin two weeks later.

“The second groove is starting to come in,” Seavey said. “Hopefully we’ll get a little more water on the track and we can find a little more speed in the race. As the race goes on it will lose grip and we’ll have to tighten the car up as we go. We’ll need to keep the tires under it. It’s tricky to get your car good here.”

Eckes’ lap of 33.952 seconds at 106.032 mph was good enough to give him a front row starting position for this afternoon’s 100-mile feature event. Ty Gibbs was third, Illinois dirt late model veteran Ryan Unzicker was fourth and Corey Heim, who was fastest in practice, was fifth.

Joe Graf Jr., Carson Hocevar, Kelly Kovski, Michael Self and Travis Braden rounded out the top-10.

CONCORD, N.C.  — SPEED SPORT means different things to different people.

Reading the columns in these pages, there is no denying it has fed people’s passion for motorsports for the past 85 years.

SPEED SPORT has been a living, breathing part of my life for as long as I can remember. It was a permanent fixture in my house growing up. My grandmother bought my dad’s subscription from the time he was a teenager, and when I was a little girl, it had a place of honor in our house.

As with many race fans of the 1970s and ’80s, America’s Motorsports Bible resided next to the toilet in neat stacks as a favorite bathroom reader. There was no internet or social media to keep you updated 24/7, so SPEED SPORT’s weekly arrival was a race fan’s lifeblood.

And for local racers like us, it was equally special as we scoured the pages for mention of our series, teams and friends. Several articles were clipped out and hung around my dad’s shop while I was growing up.

One in particular had a place of honor — the results from the fourth annual USAC vs. NCRA Challenge at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds in July 1986 when Rich Vogler wrecked our driver, Jon Johnson, on the very first lap. Vogler was escorted off the property after the race.

Shane Carson won the race for the NCRA masses. That story hung on the wall of our shop for years. And one of the first things I did as an employee of SPEED SPORT is look it up in the large bound volumes of all the old issues. Years later, I listened as Carson told my husband the story almost word for word the way my dad had told it to him. We still laugh about that today.

In 2000, when I took the job with SPEED SPORT, it may have been the proudest moment of my dad’s life. His little tomboy race fan was working for his favorite racing publication.

During the last 19 years, my life has become so intertwined with SPEED SPORT that it is more family than some of my blood relatives. I married the editor. I took a few years off from working for it, but lived vicariously through him. I watched with a little envy as they celebrated the 70th and 75th anniversaries without me at the design helm. I’m thankful to have been back behind the mouse for this issue and for every issue since SPEED SPORT’s relaunch in 2012.

We survived the pain and loss when the weekly SPEED SPORT ceased publication because it could not survive in the world of 24/7 instant news. While we mourned the loss of our main source of income, we grieved for the loss of history, of legacy, of our family.

And we accepted the worry, the work and the risk it took to the keep the brand alive and the faith to believe in the vision of Turn 3 Media to make it what it is today.

As with any family, I cuss it a lot. It isn’t always pretty as there are long nights and hard work. There are times when you wonder if it is worth all the trouble.

Sometimes it’s been a really, really good day celebrating your 13th wedding anniversary and a text arrives that ruins it because your husband has to write an obituary for his favorite sprint car driver. And you want to say, “To hell with it‚ I don’t want to do this anymore.” But you don’t — you ignore the tears in your eyes and the moisture in his, and start pulling photos to go with the story because that’s what you do.

Somewhere there are people getting the worst news of their life and it’s your job to provide dignity to their loved ones who’ve provided this sport with so much through the years. As much as we hate it, we take that part of the job seriously.

While there have been many of those moments through the years, there have been so many amazing happenings. And when you look at the scales, the good always outweighs the bad. SPEED SPORT has given me so much. It has brought so many amazing people into my life and taught me so much about the world.

It isn’t just a magazine to me — it is my family.