TOKYO – Kate O’Connor’s medal hopes at teh World Athletics Championships remain alive, though she now faces an uphill battle after slipping to fourth place in the women’s heptathlon following the long jump competition.
O’Connor’s performance builds on a strong opening day, where she achieved personal bests in the 100m hurdles, high jump, and 200m, positioning her second overall. The heptathlon, a grueling two-day, seven-event contest, tests athletes’ all-around athleticism, and O’Connor is aiming to improve upon her Irish record of 6497 points set in July.
The long jump, traditionally a weaker event for the Dundalk athlete, saw her record a best jump of 6.22m, earning 918 points. This moved her to a total of 4824 points, 191 points ahead of her position at the same stage when she established her national record.
Kate O’Connor with her best jump of 6.22m in the long jump – she is now fourth overall with two events left in the heptathlon #rtesport
📺Watch the #WorldAthleticsChamps on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player pic.twitter.com/NykukvtNfS– RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 20, 2025
Anna Hall of the USA continues to lead the competition with 5041 points, followed by compatriot taliyah Brooks in second place with 4930 points, and defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson in third on 4874.
The heptathlon now moves to its penultimate event, the javelin throw, scheduled to begin at 11am Irish time. O’Connor is known for her strength in this event and will aim to close the gap on the leaders before the final event, the 800m, at 1.11pm, where the medal positions are expected to be resolute.
Also competing for Ireland, Longford’s Cian McPhillips will participate in the men’s 800m final at 2.22pm, and the women’s 4x400m relay team will run in heat two of their semi-final at 12.11pm.
Watch coverage of today’s action from Tokyo on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 11.00pm
