LetsRun.com's 2009 IAAF Berlin World Championships Preview

Women's Heptathlon - Dobrynskya And Ennis Set To Face Off While Many Greats Sit At Home

By LetsRun.com
August, 2009

When: August 15 and 16
*LRC's World Championship Prediction Contest
*LRC WC Previews/Results/Recaps By Event
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*IAAF Worlds Page

With heptathlon greats Carolina Klüft, Hyleas Fountain, Kelly Sotherton and drug cheat Lyudmila Blonska either injured, unqualified or suspended, the 2009 women's heptathlon field is lacking in depth, but not in suspense. The showdown between Ukranian Natalya Dobrynska and Brit Jessica Ennis will be highly anticipated.

Dobrynska, the 2008 Olympic champion, will lead a strong Ukranian squad. Despite the suspension of disgraceful Olympic cheater Blonska, Ukranians occupy 3 of the world's top 5 spots in 2009.

American Hyleas Fountain was injured at the time of the US Trials, so is unqualified for Berlin. Sotherton is injured and can't compete. Klüft's body also can't handle the grind anymore and the world record holder is sticking to the long jump.

All of these absences mean an unexpected second favorite - Great Britain multi-eventer Jessica Ennis. Ennis is the current world #1 with her 6587 seasonal and personal best. Dobrynska has a personal best almost 150 points higher but has not performed quite at that level yet this year.

Third-favorite title must go to Tatyana Chernova, the Beijing bronze medal winner after the disqualification of Blonska.

All of the British press will be following Ennis as she appears to be the #1 candidate for a gold medal in Berlin with the spate of injuries circulating through the British squad lately.

*Very Good Article On Jessica Ennis
*Dobrynska Eventually Targeting Klüft's World Record

LRC Predictions:
Gold: Nataliya Dobrynska UKR
Silver: Jessica Ennis GBR
Bronze: Tatyana Chernova RUS

Women's Heptathlon Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg

6587  Jessica Ennis (GBR)   4th in 2007 World Championships
6558  Nataliya Dobrynska (UKR)  PR 6733 (2008)   Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2007 World Championships, 8th in 2004 Olympic Games, 9th in 2005 World Championships
6445  Hanna Melnychenko (UKR)   14th in 2008 Olympic Games
6442  Jennifer Oeser (GER)   7th in 2007 World Championships, 11th in 2008 Olympic Games
6412  Lyudmyla Yosypenko (UKR)
6396  Aiga Grabuste (LAT)   17th in 2007 World Championships, 19th in 2008 Olympic Games
6386  Tatyana Chernova (RUS)  PR 6618 (2008)   Bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games
6378  Kamila Chudzik (POL)  PR 6494 (2008)   15th in 2008 Olympic Games, 21st in 2007 World Championships
6355  Lilli Schwarzkopf (GER)  PR 6536 (2008)   5th in 2007 World Championships, 8th in 2008 Olympic Games, 13th in 2005 World Championships
6320  Julia Mächtig (GER)
6290w  Diana Pickler (USA)  PR 6257 (2008)   25th in 2007 World Championships
6205  Olga Kurban (RUS)  PR 6494 (2004)   13th in 2008 Olympic Games, 19th in 2007 World Championships
6191  Karolina Tyminska (POL)  PR 6428 (2008)   7th in 2008 Olympic Games, 15th in 2007 World Championships
6177  Sharon Day (USA)
5908  Bettie Wade (USA)