"TOKYO -- Anna Hall became America's second winner of the world heptathlon title -- joining Jackie Joyner-Kersee -- by wrapping up a wire-to-wire endurance test and cruising into the finish line Saturday to celebrate her biggest victory. It's the first major title for Hall, one of the world's most consistent performers in the seven-part event, after years of close calls and disappointments."
"Three years ago at worlds, she won bronze. Two years ago, she lost the title by a scant 20 points, falling less than 2 seconds short in the last event, the 800 meters, from taking the gold. Then, last year, she was forced to rush back from an Achilles injury to get ready for the Olympics, where she finished fifth."
"Among her biggest fans is Joyner-Kersee herself, who has said she sees potential for the 24-year-old from Colorado to rewrite some of the history she still owns. Joyner-Kersee is the only U.S. athlete to win the event at the Olympics (1988, '92) and she holds both the world record from 1988 and the record at world championships from her victory in Rome in 1987."
Anna Hall won the world heptathlon title in Tokyo, becoming only the second American to do so after Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Hall secured 6,888 points and led the competition from start to finish. She previously won bronze three years ago, lost the title by 20 points two years ago after falling less than two seconds short in the 800 meters, and finished fifth at the Olympics following an Achilles injury. Hall had surpassed 7,000 points in June, carried a 122-point lead into the final 800, and outpaced Kate O'Connor to claim gold. Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson tied for third with American Taliyah Brooks at 6,581 points.
Read at ESPN.com
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