British heptathlete Holly Mills is overnight leader in the World Athletics Challenge Combined Events meeting in Arona ©Getty Images

Britain’s Holly Mills, seeking a Tokyo 2020 Olympics place, is overnight leader of the heptathlon at the latest World Athletics Challenge Combined Events series with 3823 points.

The 21-year-old 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist, who set a personal best of 6180 in April, led after winning the opening 100 metres hurdles in 13.22sec and was never headed.

After winning the high jump with 1.85 metres she reached 13.26m to take tenth place in the shot put and then finished second in the concluding 200m in 24.36sec to secure her lead with three events remaining tomorrow.

China’s Zheng Ninali, who as Nina Schultz secured silver for Canada at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is second on 3711, her best performance being second behind Mills in the opening hurdles in 13.39.

Poland’s Pawel Wiesiolek had a highly effective first day at the World Athletics Challenge Multi Events meeting in Arona ©Getty Images
Poland’s Pawel Wiesiolek had a highly effective first day at the World Athletics Challenge Multi Events meeting in Arona ©Getty Images

Spain’s Maria Vicente, who set a Spanish record of 6304 at the Challenge meeting in Lana, Italy from April 24 to 25 and is currently inside the Olympic quota places in 19th position, is third with 3692 from Belgium’s Noor Vidts, highest ranked in the field at 13th, who has 3666.

Ten women have already surpassed the automatic Tokyo 2020 qualification mark of 6420 points.

After four of the five events on the first day Poland’s Pawel Wiesiolek led with 3371 from Adam Helcelet of the Czech Republic, who had 3343, and Dario Dester of Italy, who had amassed 3329.