NEWRY’S Kate O’Connor lies in second place overnight in Tokyo in the Women’s Heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships after a sensational performance on the opening day of her competition.
The 24-year-old set new personal bests in three of her four events to score 3906 points, 169 more than she had at this stage of her Irish record which she broke in July on her way to winning World University Games gold.
The Dundalk St. Gerard’s AC athlete opened her day with a huge personal best in the 100m Hurdles, clocking a brilliant time of 13.44 seconds. She moved onto the High Jump where she was faultless up to 1.83 metres. The bar then moved to 1.86 metres and O’Connor had two failed attempts before soaring over and setting a new 2cm PB.
A solid Shot Put of 14.37m moved her up to third, before she ran a massive PB of 24.07 seconds in the 200m to round out the day.
“I just came to this championship, and I just wanted to have fun,” O’Connor told Athletics Ireland afterwards. “I’ve already had the year of my dreams, and I’ve been really trying to be present in the moment with everything I’m doing.
“I’ve known I’ve had a good hurdles PB in me for a long time and sometimes I’m on the line and I think ‘oh I’ll get through this’, rather than just attacking it. I did a few runs with Sarah Lavin on our training camp; she gave me some really good advice going into that hurdles race and I feel like she’d be proud of me!
“Every single event that I’ve done, I’ve enjoyed every second,” she added. “I’m really proud of all my performances out there.”
O’Connor will be back in action in the early hours of Saturday with the Long Jump, Javelin and 800m all on the agenda.
Ireland’s women’s 4x400m relay team also take to the track at the Japan National Stadium, doing their utmost to make the final.
Day Seven – Evening Session – Friday September 19
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 3906 points (2nd after 4 events)
- Kate O’Connor – 100m Hurdles – Women’s Heptathlon – 13.44 PB (1059 points)
- Kate O’Connor – High Jump – Women’s Heptathlon – 1.86m PB (1054 points)
- Kate O’Connor – Shot Put – Women’s Heptathlon – 14.37m (819 points)
- Kate O’Connor – 200m – Women’s Heptathlon – 24.07 (974 points)
Team Ireland Schedule:
Day Eight – Morning Session – Saturday September 20
- Kate O’Connor – Long Jump – Women’s Heptathlon – 03:35am
Day Eight – Evening Session – Saturday September 20
- Kate O’Connor – Javelin – Women’s Heptathlon – 11:00am
- Women’s 4x400m Relay – Heat 2/2 – 12:11pm
- Kate O’Connor – 800m – Women’s Heptathlon – 13:11pm
