A superb series of high jumps has shot Kate O’Connor up into second place in the heptathlon at the close of Friday’s morning session at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
The Dundalk woman cleared a best height of 1.86 metres on her third attempt, equalling her lifetime best from last year. She came up short in her three efforts at 1.89m, but still finished joint-first in the event, earning herself 1,054 points. She now sits second overall on 2,134 points, one shy of Poland’s Adrianna Sulek-Schubert in first.
In front of a strong Irish support, O’Connor showed all her competitive spirit with a series of first-time clearances, starting at 1.68m. Sulek-Schubert also cleared a best of 1.86m.
Switzerland’s Annik Kalin, one of O’Connor’s main rivals, could only manage 1.71m, well off her best of 1.81m, dropping her down to fourth. Dutch medal hope Sofie Dokter also went out on 1.74m, allowing O’Connor to make up considerable ground, on course to break her own Irish record.
Earlier, O’Connor set a new lifetime best over the 100 metres hurdles, clocking 13.30, leaving her in 11th place after that first event.
“I’ve done so much work on my hurdles,” O’Connor said. “And my opening hurdles [at the Commonwealth Games] I definitely wasn’t happy with. But today was a little better, a PB. I still think there’s definitely a lot more there. But it was a good start.
“Starting off strong with people like that keeps the head in the right place for high jump. And I’m delighted. I thought 1.89m was there on that last attempt, and I believe I can jump it. It’ll maybe come another day.”
“But 1.86m, I haven’t jumped that since last year in Tokyo, so I can’t complain.”
Asked about the strong Irish support O’Connor said: “Oh my God, it was insane. I’m still too nervous to get a clap going but maybe at some stage, in the long jump. Now I’ll get home, rest, recover, chill out. I’m looking forward to this evening.”
Day one continues at 7.35pm with the shot put, then at 8.55pm, with the 200m.
Andrew Coscoran during the heats of the men’s 1,500m. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Meanwhile, Andrew Coscoran called on all his speed and tactical nuance to take fourth in his heat of the men’s 1,500m, putting himself comfortably into Saturday’s final.
The 30-year-old Dubliner imposed himself on the race from the start knowing only the top six would progress, sitting in third at the bell. Despite losing a little ground around the top bend, Coscoran kicked hard down the homestretch, clocking 3:41.86 for fourth.
But it all went wrong for Cathal Doyle in the opening 1,500m heat when he fell with 600m to run, Spain’s Carlos Saez also hitting the track. Doyle managed to finish the race, allowing him the chance to lodge an appeal but it was unsuccessful.
“I am sick of this now,” Doyle said. “This is the second Europeans now in-a-row, I get the same stuff every time, ‘Ah, he puts himself in that position’. I didn’t deserve that at all. My plan was to stay in the top six all the time. I realised that at the important part, was starting to move up, and sure there is nothing I can do. I am sick of everyone saying, ‘Aw, he put himself in the wrong position’. I didn’t do anything wrong.
“Bit of a trip there [with 700m to go], but it was fine, rally on. The other one, you didn’t get a chance to think, and you were gone. It is just annoying, it is not my fault. The last time I fell I feel I was blamed for putting myself in that position, but I didn’t do anything wrong. It is just embarrassing jogging around [after the fall].”
Ireland’s Cathal Doyle with Carlos Saez of Spain after he fell during the 1,500m heats. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
In the men’s 4x400m relay, the Irish quartet of Andrew Egan, Jack Raftery, Joe Doody and Sean Doggett finished a close fifth in their heat, clocking 3:01.76. The Netherlands took the heat win in 3:00.98.
Although Ireland originally finished sixth, they were bumped up a place after France were disqualified, but their overall 10th left them outside the top-eight finish required to make the final.
And in the women’s 4x400m relay heats, Ireland finished a distant eighth in the heats, clocking 3:32.70. Without Rhasidat Adeleke following her silver-medal performance in the women’s 200m on Thursday night, and the injured Sharlene Mawdsley, the quartet of Sophie Becker, Jenna Breen, Cliodhna Manning and Arlene Crossan could only manage 15th overall.