Another calm and composed performance by Kate O’Connor in the high jump moved her into the bronze medal position after the opening two pentathlon events on the final day of the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland.
A critical clearance at her third attempt at 1.81m keeps O’Connor in contention for a podium spot. She now sits on 2,068 points, behind the clearly in-form Sophie Dokter from the Netherlands (2,153) and gold medal favourite Anna Hall from the US (2,117).
O’Connor displayed plenty of her irrepressibly competitive style, clearing her opening height of 1.69m on the first attempt, settling any early nerves. She followed that with another first-time clearance of 1.72.
Moving to 1.75m, O’Connor clipped the bar on her first attempt – right after Hall had soared clear. No problem for O’Connor on her second attempt. So to 1.78m, O’Connor impressing again with another first-time clearance – right after Hall did the same.
Then came two failures at 1.81m, O’Connor slightly adjusting her run-up for her final attempt at that height, moving some ground wiring out of her way, and clearly willing herself over that height. Delighted with it too.
Unsuccessful at her three attempts at 1.84m, O’Connor finished equal third in that event, so moving up to third overall on 2,068 points. Hall and Dokter both cleared 1.84, before Dokter went one height better again, clearing 1.87m, the Dutch athlete showing her very best form so far.
Ireland’s Kate O’Connor in action in the Pentathlon 60m Hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Earlier, O’Connor’s fifth place in the 60 metres hurdles had left her in joint fourth position overall. Drawn in the same race and in the adjacent lane to Hall from the US, O’Connor blasted out of the blocks and kept herself right in contention, nailing fifth in 8.23 seconds – just off her recent lifetime best of 8.21 seconds, set at last month’s National Indoor Championships.
Hall took the win in 8.18, in a near blanket finish, O’Connor given the same time as Beatrice Juskeviciute from Lithuania, leaving them both on 1,077 points at that stage. Dokter also got off to a flying start there, running a lifetime best of 8.19.
Next up for the 13-women field inside Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun is the shot out (12.21pm Irish time), where O’Connor will be looking to reinforce her podium position in the third of three morning events – before the long jump and the 800m in the evening.
Also in Sunday’s first session, Sarah Lavin missed out on qualification from her heats of the 60m hurdles, finishing fifth in her heat in 8.08 seconds. Starting in lane eight, in the first of six heats, Lavin couldn’t quite get herself in contention, World champion Ditaji Kambundi from Switzerland winning in 7.84 seconds.
Only the top three progressed automatically, plus the sixth fastest non-qualifying times, and Lavin’s 8.08, short of her lifetime best of 7.90, was never going to be enough. The 31-year-old had made two World Indoor finals before, and Lavin didn’t conceal her disappointment.
“I’m lost for words, I wish I could tell you why exactly, I was sloppy,” said Lavin. “I didn’t run fast enough, which is the bottom line.
“I don’t know if I’ve come to a championship and gone out the first round ever. So obviously, I’m incredibly disappointed. I wouldn’t have come here unless I thought I could push for a final, that’s where I’ve been, and that’s where I belong. Obviously I’ll take full ownership for it, I’m very disappointed.”
More to follow…