Kate O’Connor won gold for Ireland after running 2:11.74 in the 800m, the final event of the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
O’Connor held a 51-point lead in the competition following the first six events. She had been third after day 1 on Friday but moved up the leaderboard following strong performances in the long jump and javelin on Saturday.
The victory continues a medal hot streak for O’Connor over the last 18 months. Last year, she won European indoor bronze, world indoor silver, World University Games gold, World Championship silver, and this year world indoor bronze and Commonwealth Games gold. It is Ireland’s 24th European Athletics Championships medal.
The 25-year-old also set a new Irish record of 6751 points for the heptathlon. The other two podium spots were taken by two Dutch athletes: Emma Oosterwegel in second, 38 points behind O’Connor, and Sofie Dokter in third, 87 points behind O’Connor.
More to follow…