Margaux Isaksen of the US celebrates after finishing first in the running event of the Champion of Champions leg at Al Shaqab Arena in Doha yesterday. Right: Oktawia Nowacka of Poland is seen in action in the riding category. Nowacka finished second with 5156 points. Overall 36 participants from 15 nations are taking part in the Doha leg of the competition, which is hosted by Qatar Foundation in cooperation with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Fresh and rejuvenated after a mid-season break, American pentathlete Margaux Isaksen yesterday surprised a strong field - and herself - by claiming glory at the Champion of Champions leg at Al Shaqab Arena.
The 22-year-old arrived in Doha following a ‘vacation’ and then surprised the field of 16 pentathletes - that also included London Olympic Games bronze winner Yane Marques of Brazil - to seal her win with a tally of 5224 points.
Oktawia Nowacka of Poland finished in second spot with 5156 points while Marques - the 2007 Pan American Games gold medallist - finished in third spot (5108), as pentathletes were put through swimming, riding, shooting, fencing and running drills.
“I had a four-week holiday. It is such an amazing feeling winning a competition after a break. It is an amazing thing to be able to compete in five events and win,” Isaksen said.
“I really didn’t know what to expect. I had a rough patch in the middle of the competitions. I was able to come around,” she added.
“Swimming was quite slow for me but riding was absolutely amazing for me. The horse was so wonderful. They could have jumped any height. Running is my strongest event because I really struggle with my shooting,” Isaksen said at the presentation ceremony.
“My shooting was really shaky last two rounds when you get nervous. My hand was shaking. I managed to pull through. Like I said my running was good. I was confident that nobody would catch me,” she said.
Using long strides, Isaksen ran powerfully in the final event of the day at the Al Shaqab Arena to retain her title at Champion of Champions in style.
Having started the combined in fourth position, she was composed with her shooting and after taking the lead just in the penultimate lap, she accelerated and demonstrated her blistering pace which left her pursuers way behind.
The American picked up a cool cash prize of $3,000 courtesy of RAM Watches.
Second-placed Nowacka, who was barely able to hide her delight at the finish line, said: “I am very happy because this is my first medal in the international competition. This is a surprise for me. I have surprised myself.”
Third-placed Marques said she was pleased with her performance though she could not outduel Isaksen.
“I am a little bit tired but I am happy. This year I did two World Cup finals. Besides that I did a lot of training,” Marques said.
“This year was a good season. I have to be happy with my performance. In most competitions, I was top-10. I will try to qualify for Rio. I was really waiting for this competition,” the 29-year-old Brazilian added.
Marques, who began the combined first, was unable to match the speed of Isaksen and Nowacka.
However, the result confirmed that the experienced Brazilian was back in form.
Germany’s Annika Schleu finished in fourth spot overall after running third fastest in the final event of the day at Al Shaqab.
The 23-year-old looked hungry after only three appearances on the international circuit this year.
Melanie McCann from Canada made up the top five after she had impressed throughout the day.
After a barnstorming season, Ukrainian trio Victoria Tereshuk, Iryna Khokhlova and Ganna Buriak finished 6th, 7th and 8th respectively.
Mexico’s Mayan Oliver, who clocked the fastest time in the combined at 14:00.36 took 9th place while Pamela Zapata of Argentina came in 10th.
Elodie Clouvel, the day’s fastest swimmer, could not recover the time lost in the riding event and ended her campaign 13th, just behind Cuba’s Leidis Laura Moya and Janine Kohlmann of Germany. Hanna Vasilionak of Belarus finished 15th.
Today the men’s competitions will be held at Qatar Foundation’s Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab Arena. THE PENINSULA
