Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

COYLE TAKES NINTH IN MODERN PENTATHLON FINAL

AN OUTSTANDING performance by 21 year-old Meath athlete Natalya Coyle saw her take ninth place overall in the Women's Modern Pentathlon at London today (Sunday), her first ever Olympic bid.

Lying in equal 11th after the first fencing phase, her weakest discipline, Coyle dropped to 15th after the swimming phase this afternoon, but put in a marvellous recovery during the show jumping phase, having just two fences down, and pulling back to 11th.

But it was her performance in the gruelling final combined phase of running and shooting that saw the Irish competitor - who only began competing in the sport at the age of 18 - overtake her nearest rivals to cross the finishing line in ninth overall.

Coyle qualified for the Olympics through a challenging worldwide series of qualifiers that included a World Championship in Rome.

Her fellow irish competitor, Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe, finished 25th in the Men's Pentathlon yesterday, his first attempt at Olympic level.

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