Spectacular day one puts Kate O'Connor firmly in heptathlon medal hunt at Worlds

O'Connor set personal bests in the 100m hurdles, high jump and 200m. She is second in the standings heading into day two. 

Kate O'Connor is on course to win Ireland's first World Championships medal in 12 years. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

She has been here before, looking out from such dizzying heights as she tries to do something no Irish athlete has ever done – win a global medal in the multi-events. And after a spectacular first day at the World Championships in Tokyo, Kate O’Connor now looks fully capable of doing it.

The 24-year-old Dundalk athlete sits second in the overnight standings in the heptathlon on 3906 points, having set lifetime bests in three of the four events on Friday. If she can reproduce similar magic at the Japan National Stadium on Saturday, she could win Ireland its first World Championships medal since Rob Heffernan’s race walk gold in Moscow 12 years ago.