Coyle stays on the scent of Olympics

Natalya Coyle finished a creditable 30th in the senior Modern Pentathlon European Championships last week as she pursues qualification for the London Olympics next summer. In a highly competitive field, where eight athletes claimed their qualification places for the 2012 Olympic Games, the young Tara athlete showed good composure and determination. Coyle began in fencing where she scored 10 victories for 680 pentathlon points. Despite an improvement in her fencing form from the semi-final, the hits didn't land and the Meath girl was disappointed, but realistic about her fencing performance having finished the event in 35th position. In the swimming pool Coyle was seeded in the outside lane of the third heat yet despite being the slowest seeded athlete in the heat, Coyle paced herself well and posted a decent time of two minutes, 18.61 seconds for 1140 pentathlon points to remain in 35th position. The riding event was conducted in reverse order with the first placed athlete being the last to ride in the competition. Coyle, who was 35th in the final, was the second rider into the arena and she produced a lovely showjumping display, but was unlucky to roll two poles, giving her 1160 pentathlon points. With other athletes struggling in the riding event, Coyle benefited and moved up to 30th position. The 22 year-old started the last event in 30th position, two minutes, 11 seconds behind the leader, but just over a minute off eighth position so she had everything to play for. She shot well hitting five from five in her first shoot series to make up positions, but she then lost ground on the running event. Solid shooting and tired running saw her position yo yo for the remainder of the combined event and finally crossed the finish line in 30th position, a very creditable finish in the European Championships. Coyle and her Irish team mates, Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe and Eanna Bailey will now have a well earned rest before beginning their preparations for the Senior World Championships which will be held at the beginning of September in Moscow.