Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jessica Ennis-Hill ’ s burgeoning rivalry has all the ingredients to propel athletics into the spotlight in a similar manner to the Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett clashes which captivated sports fans in the 1980s . ‘ They could have a rivalry like Steve and I had , ’ said Lord Coe . ‘ Head-to-heads are what get people excited . My kids got up at the weekend to watch Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg . The more opportunities we have for athletes going head-to-head , the better . It ’ s what people talk about . ‘ It ’ s actually not just the thought of Jess and Kat but you have Morgan Lake , too , coming through and I ’ m sure she will be equally good . It ’ s an extraordinary period to be entering. ’ Katarina Johnson-Thompson won the World Indoor 's in Prague , Czech Republic to become world No 1 . Jessica Ennis-Hill is the Olympic Champion and her future rivalry with Johnson-Thompson is 'exciting ' Johnson-Thompson , 22 , is the World ’ s No 1 hept-athlete and broke Ennis-Hill ’ s British record at the European Indoor Championships in Prague this month . Her blistering form — coupled with murmurs from the Ennis-Hill camp that her training for a comeback after the birth of son Reggie is going very well — has set the scene for a mouthwatering duel . The pair are understandably keen to play down talk of a rivalry , Johnson-Thompson out of reverence for the Olympic champion of whom she claims to be ‘ in awe ’ and Ennis-Hill because she is unsure what competitive shape she will be in . But those charged with promoting the sport are keen to make the most of the fact that Britain boasts the world ’ s two leading multi-eventers . They were expected to compete against each other for the first time since London 2012 — when Johnson-Thompson was 15th — at the Hypo-Meeting at the end of May , when the world ’ s leading heptathletes descend on the Austrian alpine town Gotzis . But Brendan Foster revealed to Sportsmail that he is trying to set up a head-to-head for earlier that month at the Great CityGames in Manchester . Lord Sebastian Coe wants the heptathletes to have an exciting duel like he did with Steve Ovett in the 1980s . ‘ Kat has already agreed to do the 200 metres hurdles and long jump , ’ said Foster . ‘ Jess was invited to take part in the same events and soundings are favourable from her . ‘ With heptathlon they might only battle it out twice a year but if sport in Britain is to benefit from the rivalry that is going to be inevitable between these two then they should compete against each other a couple more times head-to-head in one , two or three events . It ’ s in their interests and very much in the sport ’ s interest. ’ Both Johnson-Thompson and Ennis-Hill , 29 , have the World Championships in Beijing this summer as their primary aim and will probably be joined by 17-year-old Lake , who has surpassed anything either of them achieved at the same age . Johnson-Thompson and Ennis-Hill are friends off the track despite the well speculated competition . Lord Coe and Ovett were great rivals in the 80s and provided huge entertainment for the athletics world . With 12 years spanning their ages the three are unlikely ever to stand on the podium together but Lord Coe thinks that they can transform the image of a sport that increasingly seems to command the spotlight only when a new doping scandal emerges . ‘ Those three can really help engage , particularly with young girls where the challenge is to get them involved in sport , ’ he said . ‘ Stars like Kat and Jess are important for the sport . They are from normal backgrounds , they haven ’ t come out of some kind of super-schools , they are like the kids next door and that is really important so that people can identify with them. ’ The Morrisons Great Newham London Run takes place on Sunday , July 19 and gives you the chance to run on the track and cross the finish line in the Olympic Stadium . To take part , visit www.greatrun.org . 17-year-old Morgan Lake is highly regarded and could add serious competition to the title in the future .
Sebastian Coe and Katarina Johnson-Thompson could become an 'exciting ' rivalry like Lord Jessica Ennis-Hill and Steve Ovett 's in the 1980s . The heptathletes look set to compete during the outdoor season . Johnson-Thompson is the World No 1 but Ennis-Hill is Olympic Champion . 17-year-old Morgan Lake is also a hot prospect for the event . Click here for all the latest athletics news .