Superb World Indoor Championship silver medal for Kate

On the back of her success in the Netherlands at the European Championships two weeks ago where she came home with a bronze medal, Kate has gone one better in the women’s pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China with another brilliant performance in the 800m – the last event of the competition – to claim a silver medal, with European Champion Finland's Saga Vanninen taking gold.

Kate, who grew up in Newry but now lives and trains in Dundalk is the first Irish athlete to medal at the World Indoors since Derval O’Rourke won gold in Moscow in 2006.

The 24 year old also recorded three Personal Bests on the long day in Nanjing. She began with a PB of 8.30 in the 60m hurdles where she finished fourth in her heat early this morning. Another PB followed in the shot put with a throw of 14.64 m. In the high jump O'Connor topped the standings alongside USA athlete Timara Chapman with a jump of 1-81m and a few hours ago hour she landed two PBs of 6.30m and then 6.32m finishing third in the long jump. The 800m was the final event that Kate went into with 3,838 points just three behind Taliyah Brooks of the USA and 94 points behind Vanninen.

Kate only needed to beat Brooks to win the silver and that she did by a long way, with a radiant smile saying it all when she crossed the finish line in third place, with a podium silver secured.