Dundalk's O'Connor makes Olympic debut
Kate O'Connor produces season best in high jump at Paris
Dundalk heptathlete, Kate O'Connor, started her Paris 2024 Olympic journey on Thursday morning at the Stade de France, marking a historic moment as the first Irish athlete to compete in the women's heptathlon at the Olympic Games.
The heptathlon is a demanding two-day event, that consists of seven disciplines: 100m hurdles, 200m, 800m, high jump, long jump, shot put, and javelin throw, each requiring a blend of speed, strength, and endurance.
The opening event, the 100m hurdles, seen the 23-year-old lining up in lane seven of the first heat. Despite a brave effort, she finished seventh with a time of 14.08 seconds, earning 967 points.
The morning session continued with a successful high jump session, O’Connor earned 941 points, moving to 19th overall in the standings, after working her way up the heights to clear a season best of 1.77m, just shy of her personal best of 1.81m set in 2019
The St. Gerard’s AC member will enter the shot-put circle at 6:35 pm, and finish the first day of competition with the 200m at 7:55 pm. Her personal best shot throw from 2021, is 14.54m, and her best time over 200m is 24:73 seconds.
Looking ahead to the final day of competition on Friday, O’Connor will take part in the long jump, the 800m, and the javelin throw.
Schedule Thursday, 8th August: 6.35 pm: Women’s Heptathlon - Shot Put; 7.55 pm: Women’s Heptathlon - 200m.
Schedule: Friday, 9th August: 9.05 am: Women’s Heptathlon - Long jump; 10.20 am: Women’s Heptathlon - Javelin throw; 7.15 pm: Women’s Heptathlon - 800m.