After nearly two years out of action Jessica Ennis-Hill admitted she was delighted to be back in the blocks as she came third in the 100m hurdles at the GreatCity Games in Manchester.
The last time the Olympic heptathlon champion competed was at the Anniversary Games in 2013 and since then has taken time out to have a baby as well as struggling with an Achilles injury.
It has been a long road back for Ennis-Hill in which time Katarina Johnson-Thompson has showed that she will be a force to be reckoned with in women’s multi-discipline events.
But Ennis-Hill dusted off the cobwebs and raced to third with a time of 13.14 seconds, Tiffany Porter coming first and Lucy Hatton runner up.
However, despite having to settle for third, the 29-year-old believes the race is a platform to build from as she looks to recapture her finest form.
“It’s really good to be back and I just feel like it’s the start of it now so I’m really happy to be getting back into it.
“I’m always going to be disappointed because I know I’m capable of running a lot faster but I hit a hurdle and feel like I’m lacking race sharpness. So I’m just happy to come away from that and I can build on it now.
“It’s really nice to be back and getting in the blocks again and having the crowd behind you with the big cheer so it was really nice on the start line and after as well.”
Elsewhere, Olympic champion Greg Rutherford’s first jump of 8.01m was enough to take victory at the event for the third year in a row – USA’s Mike Hartfield finishing second.
“The conditions were tough, nobody jumped particularly well but it was great to win,” said Rutherford.
“I felt great, on my first jump I couldn’t believe it was an eight metre jump to be honest, I thought after that I might have pushed on and done something but I don’t think today was the day for big jumps, it was just doing what I needed to do to win and I’m pleased with that.”
There was more success for Dina Asher-Smith who added to her European indoor silver medal with victory in the 150m in a time of 16.82 seconds.
And she added to that win as she and CJ Ujah edged out Richard Kilty and Bianca Williams in the 2x100m relay.
Johnson-Thompson couldn’t overhaul Meghan Beesley in the 200m hurdles and had to settle for second place.
“It was really good, I was just nervous about actually doing it,” said Johnson-Thompson.
“I think I went out a bit too steady so I had to pick it up towards the end. I’m happy with that race, I’m just glad that I didn’t come to a grinding halt, that was my biggest fear.”
© Sportsbeat 2015