Britain's Jessica Ennis ran a heptathlon record 12.54 seconds in the 100m hurdles to get her quest for Olympic gold off to the perfect start.

Britain's Jessica Ennis ran a heptathlon record 12.54 seconds in the 100m hurdles to get her quest for Olympic gold off to the perfect start. 

Ennis's time also broke the British record, equalling American Dawn Harper's winning time in the individual event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

It was a new personal best by 0.25 secs, meaning Ennis leads the standings after the first of the seven events.
Her main rival, reigning world champion Tatyana Chernova, is 15th overall.

Ennis's 1,195 points put her 142 points clear of the Russian, when their previous PBs suggested a gap of almost half that. 

The Sheffield athlete's display was the fastest ever 100m hurdles race from a heptathlete and was greeted with deafening noise from the 80,000 crowd in a packed Olympic Stadium.

It also broke hurdles specialist Tiffany Porter's British record by 0.02 secs.

Conditions were almost ideal for the multi-eventers, and a 12.65 from Jessica Zelinka and 12.70 from Hyleas Fountain put them second and third overall on 1,178 and 1,170 points.
Ukraine's Nataliya Dobrynska, the reigning Olympic champion, produced a season's best of 13.57 secs to lie 22nd with 1,040 points.

Commonwealth champion, Britain's Louise Hazel, ran 13.48 secs in her heat while her 19-year-old compatriot Katarina Johnson-Thompson - newly crowned world junior long jump champion - began the biggest competition of her life with a fine 13.48 to equal her personal best.

The second of the seven disciplines is the high jump which starts at 11:15 BST. The shot put follows at 19:00 before the 200m at 20:45 which rounds off the opening day of competition.

On Saturday, the athletes return for the final three events, the long jump, javelin and 800m.

 BBC