Kate O’Connor is in contention to win Ireland its first-ever major multi-events medal in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, the Dundalk athlete currently sitting second in the pentathlon at the European Indoor Championships after three of the five events.
O’Connor got off to a flying start this morning, smashing her lifetime best in the 60m hurdles with 8.31, and she followed it up with an even more impressive high jump, soaring over another PB of 1.84m to put herself firmly in the medal hunt. In the shot put that followed, she was close to her indoor PB of 14.42m, throwing 14.32m in the second round.
That puts her in second place in the overall standings, on 2903 points, as she looks towards the afternoon session when she will contest the long jump and 800m. Out front, and looking to be headed for gold, is Finland’s Saga Vanninen with 2975 points, with Britain’s Jade O’Dowda third on 2886 and Dutch athlete Sofie Dokter fourth on 2884.
Those four are the sole realistic medal contenders, though O’Connor will have her work cut out to maintain her position in the top three given O’Dowda and Dokter are superior long jumpers.
However, with only three attempts allowed in the pentathlon, it’s a high-risk event loaded with jeopardy, given the capacity for fouls. It’s likely O’Connor will be battling for either the silver or bronze medal in the concluding event with Dokter and O’Dowda. All three have personal bests for the 800m of 2:11, meaning the long jump will be pivotal.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said O’Connor. “I wanted to get the first one out of the way and then relax and get into the swing of things. I was absolutely delighted with the high jump, it was a little bit rocky, I nearly had a heart attack at 1.75m. It took me a while to get into my jumping. It was nice to be able to come out and produce. It’s a really tough competition, us top four are really close and to be anywhere near the medals, I have to PB and go out and produce this afternoon as well.”
O’Connor will line up for the long jump at 2.10pm Irish time and the 800m at 5.03pm, while Ireland has a number of other potential medal opportunities this afternoon, with Andrew Coscoran facing a world-class field in the men’s 3000m, Mark English a live contender in the 800m and Sarah Healy looking fully capable of winning her first senior medal in the 3000m.
Irish in action (all times Irish)
2.10pm: Kate O’Connor, pentathlon long jump
3.50pm: Andrew Coscoran, men’s 3000m final
4.27pm: Mark English, men’s 800m final
4.36pm: Sarah Healy, women’s 3000m final
5.03pm: Kate O’Connor, pentathlon 800m
5.50pm: Women’s 4x400m relay final