EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Coach Frank Vogel instructed the scoreboard operator to put two minutes on the clock and have the score read 99-96 in the reserves' favor. It was time for the Los Angeles Lakers to test out their crunch-time lineup with LeBron James at the point and Anthony Davis at center on Day 5 of training camp Thursday.

At times it looked sloppy: James had several turnovers, including one where he had his pocket picked in the backcourt by Danny Green.

At times it looked efficient: Davis was a ready recipient of touches at the high post that he converted into face-up jump shots.

At times it looked tried and true: James hit a deep pull-up 3 to tie things up with six seconds remaining.

All of it was a work in progress.

"I mean, we have so many different lineup packages that we can probably go to throughout the course of the season," James said Thursday. "So we're just trying out a few things now in practice -- going with smaller lineups, going with bigger lineups, going with quicker lineups, going with slower lineups. But that's the luxury of having our personnel -- we have the ability to do multiple things. So, that's what practice is all about, being able to work on those things."

Besides using James at the 1 and Davis at the 5, Vogel used a closing lineup of Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Avery Bradley with the first unit.

The bench group of Green, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Troy Daniels and Devontae Cacok (with the team on an Exhibit 10 contract) edged out the starters thanks to Rondo getting fouled by James and earning the win from the free throw line with less than a second remaining.

While James might have been the one directing the offense, he didn't embrace being called a point guard.

"It doesn't matter to me," James said. "I do whatever it takes for us to win. So it doesn't matter. I'm a ballplayer. I'm not a point guard, I'm not a shooting guard, a small forward, power forward or a center. I'm just a ballplayer. You put me on the floor, and I can make things happen with whoever is on the floor. So, I'm just looking forward to getting out there with my teammates because it's exciting. It's fun."

Vogel also eschewed the label, saying that point has "been his role throughout his entire career," even if he was in the lineup at small forward. He did, however, say he will look for times where James can be on the court without L.A.'s most accomplished point guard in Rondo.

"It's going to be important that we stagger Rajon and LeBron," Vogel said. "And let each of them have their turn running the show. Being the primary ball handler out there. And obviously, they're going to play a ton together as well. But staggering those guys is on my mind as well."

As James enters into his 17th season, Vogel is trusting his star to manage his role -- to some extent -- as he deems fit.

"He's going to have the green light to defer at any point throughout the game and throughout the season, as he's done again throughout his whole career, to be the primary playmaker," Vogel said. "If he's handled three or four straight times and is winded, he can defer and give it to somebody else to bring it up. The great thing is we have wings who can initiate offense, but we also play through Anthony Davis at the top, in terms of bringing it up and playing a five-out system. His skill set is so ridiculously versatile that we can play through him as well."

As for Davis, just like James declared on media day last week, the Lakers repeatedly targeted him on offense as they played out the late-game situation Thursday, looking to let the big man shine.

"I mean, he's Anthony Davis," James said. "You get him the rock in his sweet spot and let him do the work."

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge keeps his postseason memories close, and the failures closer.

So much that ahead of his third trip to the playoffs with the Yankees, he has found himself rewatching video of the 2017 and 2018 postseasons.

"My biggest motivator and biggest lessons I've learned are always from failure," Judge said Thursday before the Yankees' workout was forced indoors by inclement weather. "I just think back to a lot of those games in '18; the little things. The little things we missed out on, the little details we missed that might not have affected a certain play but affected us later in the game or affected something later on. Failure is -- that's a tough pill to swallow, but it can always be one of your biggest motivators."

In 2017, the Yankees were eliminated in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series by the Houston Astros. A year later, their postseason didn't get that far, with the Yankees losing in four games to the Boston Red Sox in the division series.

Back in February, the wounds from both postseason disappointments were fresh, and they still are.

"Failure leaves a sour taste in your mouth," said Tyler Wade, likely one of the reserves on the Yankees' ALDS 25-man roster. "You go into the offseason ... and you see them celebrating ... and you think to yourself, 'Man, if a couple of things went our way. ... 'I think that motivates you. It has given us an extra edge. Since spring training we have had that motivation and that chip on our shoulder."

Center fielder Brett Gardner will be the only player on the ALDS roster who knows the elation of getting to and winning a World Series wearing pinstripes.

"What happened the last couple of years is still very fresh in our minds. Any time you get that close to something and fall a little short sometimes it hurts even worse than not getting close at all," said Gardner, one of two remaining members of the 2009 championship team alongside CC Sabathia, who is not active for the ALDS due to a sore shoulder.

"The last couple years, getting knocked out by the eventual World Series champion, more than anything we use those experiences to be motivated, not only by the failure, but also by learning from what we didn't do well enough. We know what we need to do to win and our plan is to go out and do that."

Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton experienced postseason play for the first time in 2018, with a less than stellar performance in the ALDS, going 4-for-18 with six strikeouts and no extra-base hits or RBI.

"You know that feeling of failure," said Stanton, who did hit a home run in the Yankees' wild-card victory over the Athletics. "You look back and think of the 'what ifs' and 'could'ves.' So you do see it as motivation, but at the same time you can't put more pressure on yourself because that gives you less of a chance to succeed. You understand the pressure, you have your time with it, and then you better get over it. Quick."

And for Judge, a 103-win season and capturing the franchise's first AL East title since 2012 mean nothing.

"Any year you're not the last man standing, the season is a fail," he said. "You can win every single game in the regular season, but if you lose in the postseason it doesn't matter. Each year, it left a bad taste in my mouth, especially Game 7 in Houston, Game 4 here at home, losing on our home turf to our AL East rivals; never a good taste going into the offseason. But [for] a lot of guys, that keeps us hungry."

"This is the regular season," Judge added. "They can say that 162 is the regular season, but that's spring training. This is when it counts. This is when it all counts. This is when it matters."

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Strasburg will start Game 2 of the National League Division Series for the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Manager Davey Martinez made the announcement prior to the start of Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

"He said he felt great, and he wanted to pitch," Martinez said of Strasburg, who worked three scoreless innings in relief of Max Scherzer and earned the win in Tuesday's wild-card game. "For me, it's like he threw a side [session] of 34 pitches with intensity. That's the way I looked at it the other day."

Strasburg admitted that his wild-card outing -- which was his first relief appearance since he was a college freshman in 2007 -- wasn't the same as a typical bullpen session between starts.

"It is something I haven't done in a really long time, and it is what it is," said the 31-year-old right-hander. "So just try to focus on what you can control and just disregard everything you can't. That's kind of the nature of the business. Sometimes you're going to have to deal with some things that you wouldn't expect, and bottom line is you still have to go out there and compete. It was definitely the most adrenaline I've ever had for a bullpen."

On Wednesday, after an off-day and a good night's sleep, Strasburg sought out his manager and told him that he was good to go for Game 2.

"He came in, without hesitation, he says, 'I want the ball. I'm ready to pitch. I feel great,'" Martinez said.

Strasburg, who's in the third year of a seven-year, $175 million contract, has been a workhorse for the Nationals this season. In 33 regular-season starts, he went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and led the NL with 209 innings pitched. It has been arguably the best season of his injury-riddled tenure in Washington.

A former top overall pick in 2009, Strasburg has dealt with injuries throughout his career. Toward the end of his rookie year in 2010, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of the 2011 season. In 2012, when the Nationals made the playoffs for the first time since moving to Washington, the team shut down its prized pitcher in September, hoping to protect his valuable right arm. After starting Game 3 of the 2014 division series, Strasburg missed the 2016 playoffs due to a flexor mass strain. In the 2017 NLDS, he made two starts against the Cubs and didn't allow an earned run. Including his relief outing on Tuesday, Strasburg now has a 0.41 career ERA in the postseason.

By starting Game 2 on Friday, Strasburg then would be available to return to the mound on normal rest for a potential Game 5 next Wednesday. Martinez said that the schedule played a key role in his decision.

"I like the way that sets up, yeah. It had a lot to do with it," he said. "The biggest thing was I wanted him to come to me and I wanted him to own it. I wasn't going to pressure him into doing anything because he's done a lot for us already."

The Nationals, who send lefty Patrick Corbin to the mound in the series opener against Dodgers righty Walker Buehler, would be able to use Scherzer on regular rest for Game 3 in D.C. on Sunday.

"He's going to go through his daily routine," said Martinez of Scherzer, "and we'll make that announcement here in the next day or so."

If Scherzer doesn't start Game 3, Martinez likely would deploy veteran righty Anibal Sanchez, who went 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA during the regular season.

Atlanta Braves reliever Chris Martin, who left Thursday's National League Division Series opener with oblique tightness, told reporters he expects to miss the rest of this series.

Martin injured his left oblique while warming up before the top of the eighth inning and left the game before he had even thrown a pitch. He is scheduled for an MRI Friday.

The Braves are expected to add another pitcher to the roster Friday. Martin will then be ineligible for the NL Championship Series, should the Braves advance, as well as the NLDS.

Martin's replacement, Luke Jackson, immediately gave up a solo home run to Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, pullling the Cardinals within 3-2, and St. Louis went on to win the game 7-6.

"We had the whole thing set up right where we wanted it," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "[Losing Martin] was a big blow."

Martin was acquired from the Texas Rangers in a trade deadline deal. In 20 appearances over 17 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.08 ERA.

Chinese shot putter retains world title in Doha as Britain’s Sophie McKinna struggles to match brilliant qualifying throw

Gong Lijiao successfully defended her women’s shot title in Doha. The 30-year-old beat Danniel Thomas-Dodd by just 8cm with 19.55m but felt she could have won by more if she had not used so much energy warming up.

“I am very excited about tonight and to win the world title and I’m happy,” said Gong. “But I’m not satisfied with my result. I think maybe it is due to during the warm-up I did a lot of throws and it was very hot. I didn’t feel as powerful tonight.”

Thomas-Dodd also thought she could have thrown further than her 19.47m best effort which came in the sixth round. “The competition was really good,” said the Jamaican.

“All the ladies had the ability to get on the podium and for me to get a silver is a real accomplishment for me. But I definitely think I could have gone further if I’d used a different technique earlier.”

Christina Schwanitz, the 2015 world champion, is returning to form after having twins in 2017 and said: “I’m happy. It was a great competition for me.”

When asked about the Olympics next year, the German said: “Up until today I’ve only thought about the last few weeks. The Olympics will be a great competition but it’s so far away! But my twins will spend more time in kindergarten next year so I’ll have more time to train and with more training I can throw far.”

With an 18.61m PB in qualifying, Sophie McKinna became the first Briton to make the world final since 1983 when Venissa Head and Judy Oakes placed 10th and 12th. In the final she threw 17.99m and admitted she found it hard to lift herself for the final after the euphoria of her qualifying performance 24 hours earlier.

Sophie McKinna reflects on Doha 2019 and tells @Jason_AW she found it hard to raise her game for the shot put final after her big throw in qualifying. #WorldAthleticsChampionships pic.twitter.com/xQn0k9YsCc

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

While the jumps standards in Doha have been exceptional, mediocrity reigned in triple jump qualifying, with only five athletes making the 14.30m standard and four of those five only doing so by two or less centimetres.

On paper it looks as if the final will be closely contested though as just 30cm covered the leading 12 with Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts leading the way with a 14.42m jump as 14.12m got the last spot among the top dozen.

The two big favourites – Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen and world champion Yulimar Rojas – jumped a remarkably similar 14.32m and 14.31m and both will be aiming to jump around a metre further in Saturday’s final.

The men’s shot qualifying was a higher standard and 12 athletes reached the necessary 20.90m, but it looked as though it would be more when eight achieved it in the first group. Tom Walsh showed he has an excellent chance of successfully defending his world title with a 21.92m throw to head qualifying. Pan American champion Darlan Romani threw 21.69m and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser 21.67m.

Bahraini sprinter storms to success in 48.14 to go No.3 all-time

Everyone was expecting Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo to win world 400m gold and the Bahamas athlete ran a superb Americas record of 48.37, a time only four athletes had previously bettered, to take 0.60 of a second off her PB but she was well beaten by an astonishing run from 21-year-old Salwa Eid Naser.

The Bahraini had not lost a 400m race since Monaco 2018 but had not faced Miller-Uibo this summer and was a strong bet for second.

She had run in the mixed relays and contributed to a Bahrain bronze ahead of Great Britain but her form, while good, had not suggested anything this earth-shattering.

World 400m winner Salwa Eid Naser says: “I’m used to chasing but in this race I was being chased!” #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/xb0Zek4Nen

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

She had won a silver medal in London while still a junior and had improved to 49.08 last year but few thought she had the firepower to match Miller-Uibo, who has run 21.74 for 200m this summer and had the world lead with 49.05 to Naser’s 49.17 where she had a narrow win in Lausanne.

Miller-Uibo started well but Naser was clearly ahead at 200m and went further away on the final bend which she powered.

Everyone expected Miller-Uibo to run her down as they hit the straight and she began to close but despite running faster than she had ever run before the Bahraini held her form well and easily held her advantage down the finishing straight to win by two metres.

She seemed astonished with her winning time of 48.14, a near one-second PB.

Miller-Uibo finished very strongly and flowed beautifully as she has in many 200m races this summer but was shocked to see for the second world championships in a row that the Asian athlete had beaten her.

Only world record-holders Marita Koch (47.60) and Jarmila Kratochvilova (47.99) have run faster than Naser and then only the once and so it was the fastest 400m for 34 years.

Miller-Uibo now sits sixth all-time.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo feels Marita Koch’s world record is possible. “Definitely,” she says. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/fSajTmHjB3

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

While the first two were a long, long way ahead the other times were also special and the top five all set PBs.

Shericka Jackson added to her list of global bronzes with a PB 49.47 while Wadeline Jonathas improved to 49.60 just ahead of Phylis Francis.

Incredibly Francis, who won in London 2017 to defeat the top two here, ran a PB but found herself a second and a half down on the winner, who said: “This is crazy. I already did the mixed relays and I was just hoping for the best but now I’m world champion. I’m screaming, I’m so happy. I’m so excited.

“It’s been tough with the training and injuries and getting here has been so hard.

“To cross the line and see that amazing time, I couldn’t believe it. The world record? Anything is possible.”

A stunned Miller-Uibo added: “To run a time like that and not win is incredible. I think I let her get away from me a little too much but I got a huge PB so I have to be happy with that. She ran a crazy race.”

European champion through to showpiece after a rapid run while trio of British men also make 1500m progress

Laura Muir insisted she had taken plenty of confidence from the manner of her progress to Saturday’s 1500m final at the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

The European champion continued her comeback from injury with an extremely stern test for the calf which has been causing so much concern, her semi-final turning out to be the quickest ever in a world championships and coming down to a blanket finish after Ethiopian Guday Tsegay had made much of the running.

World 2017 silver medallist Jenny Simpson edged it in 4:00.99, with Muir’s Canadian training partner Gabriela Debues-Stafford clocking 4:01.04 and the Briton third in 4:01.05. Tsegay was fourth in 4:01.12.

In the considerably slower opening semi-final, Sifan Hassan came home first in 4:14.69 from Shelby Houlihan’s 4:14.91, Rababe Arafi’s 4:14.94 and a time of 4:14.98 from defending champion Faith Kipyegon.

Ireland have an athlete in the world women’s 1500m final for the first time since Sonia O’Sullivan in 1997 after Ciara Mageean ran 4:15.94 to qualify in fifth, edging out Britain’s Sarah McDonald, while Australia’s Jessica Hull’s 4:01.80 made a piece of unwanted history in the second semi-final as the fastest non-qualifying time ever.

Tsegay had led the field through the opening lap in 63.79 and had begun to open a gap on the second-placed Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo before Muir, who had been loitering at the back in the early stages, covered the move and the field had bunched back up at the 800m with the clock showing 2:10.31.

Tsegay was still marginally ahead as the bell was reached in 2:59.23 and with Stafford moving up in the outside and Simpson coming through on the inside rail, there was very little to choose between the athletes as they crossed the line.

“Oh my goodness everyone talks about the final but you have to actually get there first,” said Muir. “These girls are fast, a 4:01 there for a semi-final, I’m really happy to run that time.It was a bit like deja vu with the same three girls at the front from the heat.

“I’m so happy to be back and am confident with my body. It is a good confidence boost, we’ve got a couple of days now. It’s gives me a lot of confidence knowing I can run that sort of time feeling comfortable.”

She added: “It went really well and I felt really good. I knew I was going to stay out of the way for the first half of the race, and make sure I was in position for the second. I did that and I conserved as much energy as I could. I just wanted to get an automatic qualifying spot and I’m really happy.

“I’ve got 48 hours now before the final – that’s loads of time for me to recover. In terms of recovery in terms of the final I’m really positive.”

McDonald’s disappointment was clear after becoming a reluctant leader in her heat, passing 400m in 1:14.35, 800m in 2:28.25 and 1200m in 3:32.06 before being overhauled in the closing stages and just missing out.

“Most people who know me, know I’m not a natural leader in the race,” she said. “I promised to get on the rail, and I did that well, but no-one came in front of me, so I found myself in a position where I was leading.

“I’d spoken to my coach and I knew that I was going to make a move at some point and I kind of knew that had to be sooner rather than later in that kind of race. I just didn’t have the legs in the last 50m.”

Brits safely through high-quality heats

The men’s 1500m heats proved to be the most competitive and highest quality in world championships history, with the British trio of Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr and Neil Gourley all qualifying with fast finishes but also having to work all the way to progress.

A record number of 26 runners broke 3:38 with Spain’s Adel Mechaal gaining the unwelcome distinction of becoming the fastest ever non-qualifier with his 3:37.95.

In the first heat, just 0.15 of a second covered the leading seven, with world indoor champion Samuel Tefera missing out on a top six and automatic place in 3:37.82, though he did narrowly progress as a fastest loser.

Up ahead Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:37.67), Alexis Miellet (3:37.69), Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz (3:37.69), Wightman (3:37.72) and Marcin Lewandowski (3:37.75) finished almost in a line.

“It was a bit rough, I was pushed around which was my fault for getting into some tight spots but as far as the race went I did enough to get through which is all that mattered today,” said Wightman.

.@JakeSWightman chats with @euancrumley after his 1500m heat #WorldAthleticsChamps @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/P5Es8xXOO0

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

The second heat was faster and more spread out but only after a number of fallers disrupted the rhythm.

Favourite Timothy Cheruiyot (3:36.82) won from Kerr (3:36.99), Bob Blankenship (3:37.13) and Filip Ingebrigtsen (3:37.26), who twice had to negotiate fallen runners including Tedesse Lemi after he accidentally tripped him on the last lap when the Ethiopian moved across him.

“They’re pretty intense, especially when you’ve got three heats with fantastic runners in there and everyone’s saying ‘it’s top 6’, but you’ve got to make sure you’re running with your head up and understand the people around you are also pretty quick,” said Kerr.  “You’ve got to run to your own race plan and I was able to do that.”

Josh Kerr looks good as he qualifies smoothly through his 1500m heat. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/xWPXyHwyWl

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

The third heat was even faster and another close contest as former world indoor champion Ayenleh Souleiman (3:36.16) won from 2012 Olympic champion Taouflik Makhloufli (3:36.18), Kalle Berglund (3:36.19) and Gourley (3:36.31).

The latter ran a smart race and was always in a qualifying position.

“At this level sometimes you get tactical races and sometimes someone just wants to take it on,” said Gourley. “My race was one of those and I just had to be patient because there were a lot of little moves happening and you have just got to pick the right time.

“Fortunately I was able to find a little gap to do that. You have to plan for everything.”

Neil Gourley is glad to get going at last in Doha in the 1500m heats – and looks good qualifying. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/LdGhRS5fvh

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 3, 2019

German’s consistency pays off in a contest that sees world record-holder Kevin Mayer pull out

Niklas Kaul crossed the finish line of the final event of the decathlon, the 1500m, in first place and raised his arms in victory. It was 12:36am in Doha in the early hours of October 4, but the 21-year-old German was not dreaming. He had just won the world title.

Kaul scored 8691 in a battle of attrition that saw, among other things, the withdrawal of Kevin Mayer in the pole vault. The world record-holder from France was leading the decathlon at that stage – in the eighth event – but broke down in tears after being forced to pull out due to injury.

Kaul beat the best men who were left standing and they included Maicel Uibo, the Estonian scoring a PB of 8604 to take silver, plus Damian Warner, the Canadian scoring 8529 in third.

“In the beginning we all thought Kevin would take the gold and when he dropped out the race was on for the gold between Damian, Maicel and me,” said Kaul, who has won world and European under-20 titles in recent years plus the European under-23 crown earlier this summer.

“I never thought I’d be able to take the gold because there are so many good talented decathletes out there. I’m not the best decathlete but maybe I’m the best consistent and that’s important when you have these long days,” he added.

Kaul’s marks included 100m in 11.27, long jump of 7.19m, shot put of 15.10m, high jump of 2.02m, 400m in 48.48, sprint hurdles in 14.64, discus in 49.20m, pole vault in 5.00m, a world record in a decathlon javelin of 79.05m and 1500m in 4:15.70. “In the javelin I thought it could go far but never this distance,” said Kaul, who was able to throw so far because he has recently recovered from a long-term elbow injury.

Runner-up Uibo is following in the giant footsteps of Olympic champion Erki Nool from his own country and put in a gallant effort in Doha after struggling with a shoulder injury this year and heel surgery last year. He also had the distraction of his wife, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, competing in the 400m final at the same time his own 10 events were reaching their conclusion. “I only watched it by refreshing a results page while I was on a massage table,” he said.

Warner, winner in Gotzis this year and winner of two minor medals at the world championships, looked disgruntled with his two days – and another minor medal. “I set high standards for myself,” the Canadian said.

Heptathlete breaks British record on her way to a stunning world title win in Doha

For the second night running, Great Britain were given a golden moment to celebrate at the IAAF World Championships in Doha. For the second night running, that moment was brought about by the record-breaking exploits of a remarkable young woman.

Barely 24 hours after Dina Asher-Smith had scorched her way around the Khalifa Stadium track to 200m victory, the multi-skilled Katarina Johnson-Thompson produced the finest heptathlon performance of her career to score a British record of 6981 points which put her sixth on the all-time lists and vanquished the defending champion Nafissatou Thiam.

For a long time now, the 26-year-old has lived with the pressure of being the successor to Jessica Ennis-Hill. There have been recent highs such as Commonwealth, world indoor and European indoor titles, but there have also been crushing – and high-profile – disappointments.

It is to her great credit that those have been learned from and overcome. Now, after breaking the three-time world and 2012 Olympic champion’s national mark, it’s official – Britain has a new heptathlon hero.

The tone was set on day one when big personal bests in the 100m hurdles and shot put had put Johnson-Thompson in control as the competition resumed with the long jump only minutes after the British national anthem had finished playing for Asher-Smith’s medal ceremony.

Perhaps she was watching her team-mate ascend to the top step of the podium in the corner of the stadium closely, or perhaps the scene provided inspiration of a more subliminal kind, but Johnson-Thompson’s competitive instincts kicked in quickly as she set about trying to grow the 96-point advantage over the Belgian Olympic and European champion with which she had begun day two.

Thiam started her chase with a modest jump of 6.25m, starting her leap from a long way behind the board, while the leader opened up at 6.32m – an effort with which she looked rather non-plussed. The expression would change after the following round, however.

Thiam could only manage a second-round 6.35m before she found herself being put under real pressure by her rival. Johnson-Thompson’s reply saw her soar out to 6.77m, the furthest she has ever leapt in a heptathlon.

Thiam mustered 6.40m in response (again, she landed a long way behind the take-off board) and, though she fouled her final jump, Johnson-Thompson had already inflicted substantial damage, her lead widening to 226 points on a total of 5233, with Thiam on 5017 and American Kendell Williams third with 4792.

The job was not done yet, however, particularly given the fact that the next event, the javelin, is traditionally one in which the Belgian holds a sizeable advantage thanks to her personal best of 59.32m.

It remained to be seen how much she might be affected by a persistent elbow injury, though, and also whether or not Johnson-Thompson could rise to the challenge once again.

The world and European indoor pentathlon champion opened with an encouraging 42.21m, while a frustrated Thiam deliberately fouled her first effort after it landed around the same distance.

With her opponent looking uncomfortable, Johnson-Thompson again chose the perfect moment to strike as she sent her second-round effort out to 43.93m which represented a personal best of 1.01m.

Thiam went further second time around, reaching 48.04m, but that was where her javelin competition ended after she opted not to take a third throw and was seen icing her injured joint in the immediate aftermath. Johnson-Thompson threw 40.55m to complete her series as the gold medal was all but placed in her grasp.

Thoughts began to turn towards not if she might win the title, but rather by how much. With six events gone, and only the 800m – in which she has a best time eight seconds quicker than the Belgian – remaining, the chance of a record-breaking victory presented itself.

The Commonwealth champion sat 137 points ahead on 5976, with Thiam on 5839 and Swiss Verena Preiner 5579. Ennis-Hill’s mark of 6955 set on Super Saturday was under threat.

Johnson-Thompson needed to run 2:09 to beat that, and a personal best of 2:06 (her best mark sat at 2:07.64) to reach the fabled 7000-points mark. She clocked 2:07.26.

Hitting the front not long before she took the bell in 1:03.14, every sinew was strained in the pursuit of history and a closing 200m of 31.38 gave her the personal best, the points tally and the title she so craved.

“These whole two days have been so fast and because it has been at night, it’s actually felt like a dream,” she said. “Doing it under the lights and everything was unbelievable. I can’t believe this is the result. I have had so many attempts at this result so to perform on this stage makes me so happy.”

HOW KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON WON
100m hurdles – 13.09 PB, 1111 points
High jump – 1.95m, 1171 points
Shot put – 13.86m PB, 785 points
200m – 23.08, 1071 points
Long jump – 6.77m, 1095 points
Javelin – 43.93m PB, 743 points
800m – 2:07.26 PB, 1005 points
TOTAL – 6981 NR