British fan favorite Jessica Ennis has made another indelible Olympic mark — a gold medal in the women's heptathlon.
She finished robustly ahead of the pack Saturday night in the 800-meter run and crossed the finish line with her face transforming from strain into overwhelming emotion and, finally, a broad grin. She's now basking in the crowd's adoration as she wraps herself in the British flag and waves to a jam-packed Olympic Stadium. In the stands, flashbulbs are popping by the thousands.
Ennis went into the last of her seven events with a lead of 188 points over Austra Skujyte of Lithuania and extended her margin by winning the last race Saturday in 2 minutes, 08.65 seconds.
Ennis, it's safe to say, is one of the most popular women in Britain at this moment — far beyond the confines of the jam-packed, 80,000-seat stadium.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

