O'Connor bounces back to lead O'Dowda in heptathlon

O'Connor bounces back to lead O'Dowda in heptathlonImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kate O'Connor won her heat in the 200 metres to move into the lead of the heptathlon over Jade O'DowdaPublished1 minute agoNorthern Ireland's Kate O'Connor is three events away from a first Commonwealth Games gold medal as she leads the heptathlon after the opening four events in Glasgow.In the absence of Katarina Johnson-Thompson, England's Jade O'Dowda is in second place, 55 points down on O'Connor, as rain hammered Scotstoun Stadium for the evening session. Australia's Mia Scerri is a distant third but England's Niamh Emerson is in medal contention in fourth place. The heptathlon concludes on Wednesday with the long jump, javelin and 800m.O'Connor finished second in Birmingham in 2022 behind Johnson-Thompson, who pulled out of the Commonwealths on the eve of the Games, but is now in a strong position heading into the second day of competition.The withdrawal of the 33-year-old has opened the door for a first new Commonwealth heptathlon champion in eight years.Related topicsAthleticsCommonwealth Games