Kate O'Connor smashes Irish heptathlon record to strike gold at World University Games
Kate O'Connor
has won her the heptathlon gold medal at the World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
The 24-year-old was in superb form in all seven events, smashing her own national record on her way to claiming a first multi-event medal for Ireland in the championships.
Already 373 points clear going into the final event, O'Connor saved one of her best performances for last, finishing second in the 800m with a personal best of 2:10.46 to bring her points tally to 6487.
That significantly improved on her previous record of 6297 set in 2021, this being her first heptathlon competition since twice breaking new ground in the indoor five-event pentathlon. Earlier this year O'Connor took bronze in the pentathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and followed up with silver in the event at the World indoor stage in Nanjing, China.
READ MORE
Relishing the competition once again, the Dundalk woman set the pace on both days. Hungary's Szabina Szucs claimed the silver medal with 6081 points while Australia's Emilia Surch took bronze with 6068 points, both also personal bests among the 29 competitors.
Ireland's Kate O'Connor during the javelin event in the heptathlon at the World University Games in Bochum, Germany. Photograph: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
While gold medals have previously been won by Ireland in swimming and golf, this was only the fifth athletics gold won by an Irish athlete since World University Games were officially inaugurated in 1959. Ronnie Delany won gold over 800m in 1961, Niall Bruton and Sonia O'Sullivan over 1500m in 1991, and Thomas Barr in the 400m hurdles in 2015.
After setting a personal best of 24.33 seconds in the 200m on Wednesday, O'Connor threw 51.87m in round one of the javelin on Thursday and cleared 6.15m in round one of the long jump.
Only a collapse in the 800m would have denied her gold, and instead she made absolutely sure of it, improving her previous best of 2:11.42.
An MA student in Communications and PR at Ulster University, O'Connor's indoor medals were the first senior medals won by any Irish athlete in a multi-event. She had already made a breakthrough in the women's heptathlon in winning European Under-20 silver in 2019 before becoming Ireland's first representative in the heptathlon at last year's Paris Olympics.
The switch from the pentathlon – five events indoors spread across one day – to the heptathlon – seven events outdoors spread across two days – involved the addition of the 200m and the javelin, the latter being O'Connor's favourite event.
Her next heptathlon will be the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
‘Irish Harry Kane' - Roma fans hail Ferguson as Ireland striker scores again
He's barely at the club a few days, but already fans of AS Roma are gushing over Evan Ferguson. The Ireland striker could hardly have asked for a better start when he scored four goals and produced one assist in a 9-0 thumping of Serie D side UniPomezia, which was played behind closed doors at the club's training ground. But Saturday's pre-season friendly away to Kaiserslautern, at a full Fritz-Walter Stadion, was always going to provide a much tougher test for the on-loan star. However, it didn't take Ferguson long to deliver. His 16th minute goal was enough to earn the Serie A side the win. And his overall performance, where he led a high press that new boss Gian Piero Gasperini brought with him from his former club Atalanta, brought him much love from the club's fantatical support base. Many took to social media to give their verdicts on the Irishman's display. Here are some of the highlights: 'Athletically not at their sharpest, as is expected at this stage of preparation, but man, I love the style of play. That man-to-man pressure, the compactness, etc ... Few risks conceded, interesting passing patterns. Ferguson is just a joy to watch!' 'Keep it up, Rome! Great job Ferguson' 'Our Irish Harry Kane' One fan even referenced the loan deal from Brighton, which has a €40million option to buy at the end of the season, writing: 'Sooooooooooooooo can we just buy him outright now?!' Another kept it simple, just posting, 'Evan', followed by 28 love heart emojis in Roma colours. Many Roma fans were producing Irish flag emojis - and after years of heartache, one wrote: 'Another goal from Ferguson. Is it already okay to get our hopes up?' Ferguson's arrival could spell bad news for Roma's 28-year-old Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk. 'At 20 years old, (Ferguson) already shows character and desire. Honestly, it's very promising. The only doubt I have is that after a year of Dovbyk, seeing a striker who moves into spaces, attacks, and holds up the ball feels incredible. It's still too early to get carried away. But he looks promising.' Another posted: 'This year will be tough for Dovbyk. This guy (Ferguson) is really strong.' One asked: 'When is he being presented with the golden boot?' Other posts included: 'Mark my words, this season Evan Ferguson will make the difference in Italian League! Rt if you agree!' 'Evan Ferguson is in some the best hands for production and maximising attacking talent playing under Gasperini' 'Evan Ferguson bout to win serie a golden boot calling it now' 'I'm buying all the available Evan Ferguson stocks' 'I love Evan Ferguson in this team so much' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Ireland Women's continue good form with Zimbabwe win in ODI
Ireland's women cricket continued on from their T20 series win over Zimbabwe by beating the same opponent by 97 runs in their first ODI on Saturday in Stormont. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl and it was Ireland's opening partnership led by captain Gaby Lewis and Sarah Forbes that put Ireland into the ascendency. Their partnership of 116 runs paved the way for Ireland to secure their fifth highest ODI run total of 288-9. Forbes was the top run scorer with 54 followed by Lewis and Orla Prendergast who both also had a half-century with 51 and 50 respectively. It was a momentous day for Prendergast as well as Amy Hunter as the pair both broke the 1000 ODI runs mark for Ireland. Hunter scored 43 and lastly Laura Delaney scored 34 as Ireland's front order built a commanding score. Ireland's women cricket continued on from their T20 series win over Zimbabwe by beating the same opponent by 97 runs in their first ODI on Saturday in Stormont. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile However after they all left Ireland's middle and back order didn't really get into it as the final 6 players all scored in the single digits before Ireland finished their innings 288-9. Luckily for them however Ireland didn't really need a big performance from their back order as when it their turn to field they got off to a flying start. Prendergast took two quick wickets in the first few overs. Zimbabwe's captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano was the visitor's top scorer with 48 as the guests struggled to get a partnership going and once she was gone, Zimbabwe didn't stand much of a chance and were bowled out for 191. Arlene Kelly however was the star bowler of the day going 2-17 in her six overs. Lara McBride did well on debut as she bowled for 2-25, the exact same as Jane Maguire. Lastly Cara Murray, who after struggling at the start of the Zimbabwean innings picked up two wickets towards the end to finish up on 2-53. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl and it was Ireland's opening partnership led by captain Gaby Lewis and Sarah Forbes that put Ireland into the ascendency. Their partnership of 116 runs paved the way for Ireland to secure their fifth highest ODI run total of INPHO/Bryan Keane It was Orla Prendergast however who picked up the player of the match award for her half-century in the first innings with the bat and bowling 2-20 in the second, including 4 maidens. After that fast start Ireland had done enough to see things out and secure yet another win over Zimbabwe. It's been a great start to life for Lloyd Tennant as Head Coach and speaking to ahead of this match, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis spoke about how it was good to have a new voice in camp. 'It's been really good, it's hard for him coming over not knowing the system or things so that did take a few weeks to get used to but he's been great and he's hit the ground running with the girls and I think it's a nice change after six years. Forbes was the top run scorer with 54 followed by Lewis and Orla Prendergast who both also had a half-century with 51 and 50 respectively Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile 'Obviously Ed was brilliant, but there comes a time a fresh voice is needed and I think he came at a good time.' With the T20 series win behind them as well Lewis spoke about the some of the best things this Irish squad are taking from this month. 'It was a great positive in that last T20 that we had a few changes in the team and the result was still the same, so I think it shows the depth and the competition within our squad. And all the girls that aren't in the 11 are pushing to get that opportunity and are willing to grab with both hands. It's only going to get better over the next few years.' It was a momentous day for Prendergast as well as Amy Hunter as the pair both broke the 1000 ODI runs mark for Ireland. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Ireland return to Dublin next month for a three-game T20 series against Pakistan. Lewis spoke about the excitement in camp heading into the future. 'We're all looking towards the qualifiers and a World Cup and I think that it starts from these games, how we change our approach into the games. I think that then leading into Pakistan, that will be a more challenging series, but yeah it's really exciting.' Before the Pakistan series though Ireland have a second ODI against Zimbabwe on Monday 28 July in Stormont once again. First ball is set to be thrown at around 10:45am and will be streamed live on Ireland Cricket's YouTube channel.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Evan Ferguson scores fifth goal in two games for Roma to set up friendly win over Kaiserslautern
The Irish striker hit the ground running with his new club by scoring four times in a training ground success over Serie D opposition earlier this week. There was a dramatic contrast on Saturday afternoon as the 20-year-old was in a packed stadium, leading the line for Gian Piero Gasperini's side against a side that is currently in the German second tier. He made the most of the opportunity by capitalising on a first half goalkeeping error by Julian Krahl to win possession and slot the ball into the empty net. Ferguson was replaced after an hour. His next game will be against Cannes on Thursday.
