Local Hero Ennis Gets Track Under Way

Phil Noble/ReutersJessica Ennis of Britain, foreground, with the American Hyleas Fountain in the 100-meter hurdles of the heptathlon, which kicked off the first day of track at the London Games.

LONDON — For track and field junkies, today is really the day that the Olympic Games began.
A sold-out crowd filled the Olympic Stadium Friday for the first day of track and field, benefiting from good weather and a relit Olympic flame that burned beneath the scoreboard.
The women’s heptathlon 100 meter hurdles was the first track event to take place, while the men’s shot put competitors warmed up nearby. Finishing at the top of the five women’s heptathlon heats was favored Jessica Ennis of Britain, who ran a time of 12.54 seconds, the fastest ever recorded in a heptathlon. The crowd roared its approval as she crossed the finish line.
One of track and field’s most dynamic events, the heptathlon will unfold over two days. Later Friday, the women will also complete the high jump, shot put and the 200 meters, while the long jump, javelin and 800 meters will take place on Saturday.
In the shot put, the American Reese Hoffa (who by the way is also an ace with a Rubik’s cube) put up a qualifying early Friday morning that secured his spot in the evening final. American men have not earned a gold in shot put since the 1996 Games in Atlanta.