Kate O'Connor hoping patience a virtue as heptathlete gets Tokyo turn at last

After a long wait, the Dundalk native will see action at the Japan National Stadium on Friday. 

UP AND OVER: Ireland's Kate O'Connor will kick off her world championships in Tokyo on Friday. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Day seven of the World Athletics Championships and now, finally, Kate O’Connor has her chance. The Dundalk heptathlete has had to be patient over the past week as she watched her Irish teammates compete, but today it’s her turn to take to the track at the Japan National Stadium.

“There’s been a lot of sitting around so I’m looking forward to going out there and doing what I came here to do,” she says. “Obviously, I want to do well and do myself justice.” O’Connor is ranked fifth in the heptathlon, which begins just after 5.30pm local time (9.30am Irish time) and she’ll then face four events in rapid succession – a departure from the usual schedule when events are spread across the day. “The night before is when I start to feel a bit nervous but it’s going to be weird because I’m not on until the evening. Normally I’m up early in the morning so there’ll be a little hanging around. At least I can sleep in.”