Johnson-Thompson leads heptathlon after four events

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon - 200 Metres - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson in action ahead of Kendell Williams of the U.S. and Erica Bougard of the U.S. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

DOHA (Reuters) - Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson produced two personal bests as she made a superb start to the heptathlon at the world athletics championships on Wednesday, opening a 96-point lead over defending champion Nafissatou Thiam after four events.

The 26-year-old Johnson-Thompson took an early lead after running a lifetime best of 13.09 seconds in the 100m hurdles, before matching Thiam with a clearance of 1.95m in the high jump.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon Shot Put - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson reacts REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The Belgian briefly reclaimed top spot with a 15.22-metre throw in the shot put, but Johnson-Thompson kept in touch with a personal best of 13.86 metres.

The Briton then retook the lead with a season's best of 23.08 seconds in the 200 metres to move onto 4,138 points and put herself in a position to win her country's second gold of the championships.

Britain clinched its first gold when Dina Asher-Smith dominated the 200 metres final on Wednesday at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon - 200 Metres - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson races to the line to win her race REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

"Gold - why not?" Johnson-Thompson said. "I am in shape and in the position to do it but you never know what can happen on day two."

Thiam trails Johnson-Thompson with 4042 points but was nonetheless pleased with her performance with three remaining events on Thursday -- the long jump, the javelin and the 800m.

"I'm happy with what I did today and I hope I can be good like that tomorrow and see what happens," Thiam said.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon Shot Put - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson in action REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Kendell Williams of the United States sits in third with 3,855 points.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon - 200 Metres - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 General view as Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson leads during the race REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Toby Davis)

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon Shot Put - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson in action REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's Heptathlon Shot Put - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 2, 2019 Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson reacts REUTERS/Dylan Martinez