Awesome Ennis romps to heptathlon gold in Berlin

From Tom Oldfield, Sportsbeat, in Berlin

  JESS Ennis banished the memories of her Olympic disappointment once and for all by putting the finishing touches to heptathlon gold at the World Athletics Championships.

 GOLDEN GIRL: Jess Ennis romps to 800m victory to claim world heptathlon gold in Berlin

The 23-year-old led from start to finish through all seven disciplines in the Olympiastadion in Berlin, and while Germany's Jennifer Oeser chipped away at her overnight lead, Ennis' outstanding performance on Saturday ensures she is the new golden girl of British athletics.

Ennis was forced to sit out the Beijing Olympics after fracturing her ankle but she has been in mesmeric form in 2009 - setting personal best after personal best - and a 171-point advantage going into the 800m, which equated to a 12-second lead, set her head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

But Ennis, as she has proved over the last few days, does not do things by halves and she romped to victory in the 800m in 2:12.22 minutes to clinch gold in style.

"It's been the longest two days of my life but the best two days of my life," said Ennis, who chalked up 6731 points in total - a lifetime best.

"I can't believe it, I feel like crying, I'm the world champion.

"This competition has come around so quickly after last year but this has been the best year of my life and it's really made up for the disappointment of last year ahead of the Olympics.

"It was such a low point last year but to come back so strong and become world champion is amazing."

Ennis follows in a long line of successful British heptathletes that includes Olympic and world bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton and Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis - but neither managed gold on the world stage.

And Ennis revealed she has been dreaming of topping the podium ever since she took up the sport.

"I have honestly dreamt of winning medals and becoming the world champion and times like these for as long as I can remember," she added.

"I can't believe what has happened but to be world champion is an amazing feeling.

"My parents spent a lot of money on Beijing so it was a bit difficult to come out here financially. That was part of the reason and I totally understand, they support me all the way. But my boyfriend Andy is here.
 
"I just spoke to Denise Lewis and obviously following in the footsteps of her and Daley Thompson is amazing. I hope I can get stronger."

Meanwhile, silver went to Oeser, who collected 6493 points and bronze went to Kamila Chudzik of Poland, who accumulated 6471.

Louise Hazel of Great Britain was 14th, with a personal best points score of 6008.

Read Sportsbeat's James Toney reporting from Berlin and what Ennis had to say in her post-event press conference - Forged in the Berlin crucible, champion Ennis has nerves of Steel