Jessica Ennis-Hill, photo by PhotoRun.net
SHEFFIELD (GBR): Olympic and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has been forced to miss the indoor season due to soreness in her right Achilles, reports PA. “I know the warning signs with the Achilles now, I know when it’s starting to stiffen up and when it’s becoming sore that there’s potentially a problem there. Just in training it was stiffening up a little bit and becoming a bit aggravated so obviously as soon as I felt that, it was off to the physio and see the doctors and arrange for scans.” She was due to open her season in the 60m hurdles at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on 20 February. She had also accepted the invitation to compete in the pentathlon at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland. She is also confident of making this summer’s Olympics, despite the current situation.
Editor’s note: A few years ago, Harry Marra, the coach of Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theison-Eaton, told us that one of the most important jobs for an athletics coach, especially a multi event coach, is to manage the injuries. Toni Minichiello, coach of Jessica Ennis-Hill is a constant observer of his athletes. If Ms. Ennis-Hill has a sore achilles, no choice but to rest it. World Indoor can be missed, Olympic champs can not.