Coyle claims silver in Sofia

Former Meath Sportsperson of the Year Natalya Coyle produced her best performance of the year as she stormed to a silver medal at the Modern Pentahlon Wold Cup 4 in Sofia Bulgaria on Friday evening.
The race was won by Britain's Kate French, but it was Coyle's return to form and the podium that gathered most of the attention as she secured her first individual medal.
Tara athlete Coyle started the Laser-Run 10 seconds clear of French, but the British showed stamina and nerves of steel to overtake her rival and make sure she was never going to be caught.
Coyle started protected her advantage through the first two circuits of the Laser-Run as Oteiza had set off in third position was immediately swallowed up by Vega from Mexico and Batashova from Russia who made an early dash for the podium.
Another athlete showing intent was Esposito (AUS), who had started 10th, but soon moved up to fifth.
The third visit to the shooting range was the moment the initiative changed hands, as French took advantage of a sticky shoot by Coyle to move into pole position. 
Thereafter the main excitement surrounded the battle for bronze, which seemed destined to be settled by the Olympic champion after her impressive win at World Cup Kecksemet.
To the crowd’s surprise, however, Esposito failed to produce her usual accuracy on the final shoot and it was Batashova who kept her nerves under control to move into a podium position with a sub-10sec shoot.
Coyle refused to be fazed and held on to secure silver, her first-ever individual World Cup medal, and another first-time medallist followed her across the line after an intriguing battle for bronze.
It was Uliana Batashova of Russia who secured third place after refusing to bow to pressure from the Olympic champion, Chloe Esposito of Australia, who finished fourth ahead of Tamara Vega of Mexico (fifth) and Ilke Ozyuksel of Turkey (sixth). 
"It was a really good day, I swam two seconds better than in qualifying, so that was great and then I fenced really well," said Coyle after securing silver.
"That set me up and I was a bit nervous for the riding because it didn't go very well in Los Angeles, but I only had some time penalties and that was great.
"That put me first in the Laser-Run and I ended up seconnd, so I am delighted. I've never won a senior individual medal before," said Coyle.
Coyle will competed in the mixed relay on Monday with her partner Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe.