KEY POINTS:
BEIJING - A personal best clearance in the high jump boosted New Zealander Rebecca Wardell's confidence early on the first day of the Olympic heptathlon competition at the Bird's Nest stadium here today.
Wardell bettered her previous best by four centimetres when she cleared 1.71m on the third attempt to garner 867 points in the second of seven events spread over two days.
Her clearance gave her 14th position in her group of 20 jumpers, which was won by Jolanda Keizer of the Netherlands with 1.83m for 1016 points.
After two events, Wardell's total of 1835 points puts her in 29th position overall, with the shot put (11pm NZT) and the 200m (1.20am NZT Saturday) scheduled for the evening session.
American favourite Hyleas Fountain, who cleared an impressive 1.89m in the high jump, leads the overall competition on 2251 points, with Russian Anna Bogdanova second on 2165.
Wardell began the day solidly, clocking a season's best 14.07 seconds over 100m hurdles in the third of five heats to finish fifth, with Latvian Aiga Grabuste winning in 13.78. Wardell's time gave her 968 points, placing her 33rd (crct) out of the 43 starters.
Fountain, who has the season's best total at 6667 points, scorched through the fifth and final heat in 12.65sec for 1158 points and the early lead.
- NZPA
