Saga Vanninen at the World Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)
History beckons in more ways than one in the women’s pentathlon at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25.
Saga Vanninen, the silver medallist in Glasgow last year, is bidding to become the first Finnish woman to win a senior global combined events title. Meanwhile, leading opponent Kate O’Connor will be hoping to become the first Irish woman to win a global combined events medal.
The duo have already locked horns twice this year, both times resulting in the two women setting national records with Vanninen coming out on top.
She won in Tallinn in February with 4843 as O’Connor placed second with 4683. Five weeks later at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Vanninen improved the Finnish record to a world-leading 4922 to take gold, while O’Connor claimed bronze with 4781. During that competition in the Dutch city, Vanninen set PBs in three disciplines while O’Connor did likewise in four of the five.
Given the momentum they’re taking into Nanjing, it’s not inconceivable that they’ll improve again on the global stage. But, given this is the combined events, medals aren’t a guarantee either.
Hungary’s Xenia Krizsan came close to earning her first global medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, placing fourth in the heptathlon. The 2021 European indoor bronze medallist could make the podium in Nanjing if she matches or exceeds her 4644 PB from four years ago.
Paulina Ligarska won the Polish indoor title last month with a PB of 4615, then went on to place fifth at the European Indoor Championships.
USA’s Taliyah Brooks hasn’t contested a pentathlon since 2018, but she has produced several PBs this indoor season which suggests she’s on course to break her PB of 4580 and perhaps even challenge for a place on the podium. She’s joined on the US team by national indoor champion Timara Chapman.
Also keep an eye out for Croatia’s Jana Koscak, the world U20 champion. She competed at last year’s World Indoors, aged just 17 at the time, but was only able to complete the first discipline. Her real time to shine on the senior stage will likely come in a few years’ time, but Nanjing should provide useful experience.
The indoor pentathlon for women comprises five events undertaken on one day: 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m. In Nanjing, the competition takes place on the opening day, on Friday 21 March. The 60m hurdles, high jump and shot put form part of the morning session, while the long jump and 800m are contested during the evening session.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
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