ATHLETICS: HEPTATHLETE Katie Stainton started her 2017 outdoor season in fine style last weekend, competing in the Multistars Combined Events competition in Florence, Italy.
The curtain raiser event invited athletes from across the world, and this year 39 competitors were confirmed starters for the event which sees seven events spread across two days.
Though the youngster couldn’t quite reach her ambition of 5,800 points, a figure needed to qualify for selection at the European Under 23 Championships later this year, she will have further opportunities in the future having fell 34 points short on 5,766.
Day one started with the 100m hurdles, which saw Katie complete in 14.21 seconds.
A joint personal best was achieved in the second event as Katie jumped 1.75m in the high jump before throwing 11.55m in the shot putt.
A disappointing time was set in the 200m – day one’s final event – as Katie cramped up with 80 metres to run, meaning she completed the distance in 24.72 seconds.
She started day two on 3,409 points – and her efforts to reach her goal received a boost when she jumped 6.07m in the long jump – becoming one of only four athletes in the competition to jump more than six metres.
Javelin followed where she started with a no throw before a second throw of more than 40m was judged to land ‘tip up’ by officials and therefore wasn’t counted.
Katie’s final throw – this time a legal effort – reached 35.42m, a little down on her personal best.
The final event was a gruelling two circuits of the track, 800m.
A fast first lap saw Katie keeping up with the leader and she finished the race in 2nd place with a respectable time of 2mins 14secs.
Overall, Katie finished fifth in the competition which featured several Olympic heptathletes, meaning she has reason to be pleased with her performance and move onto the next event.
