Coyle set to clinch Olympic modern pentathlon place

After a spring of consistency on the World Cup circuit, modern pentathlete Natalya Coyle from Tara is almost certain to representative Ireland at this year's Olympic Games in London, becoming the first Irish representative in the event since Moscow 1980. Coyle has strived over the last 12 months to secure her place at London 2012, but following last weekend's magnificent display in China, the Meath woman achieved the qualification target and looks set to be confirmed as Ireland's 54th 2012 Olympian on Friday afternoon when the Union International de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) releases its official list of qualified athletes for the Games. Outstanding performances in World Cup series events in USA, Brazil, Hungary and Russia secured Coyle's place in the World Cup final in China last weekend and, on Sunday, she secured 21st place, which earned her enough qualification points to secure an provisional spot at the Olympics. It's just a waiting game now. The 21-year-old woman, who lives at Corbalton, Tara, headed into Sunday's final occupying a qualification position for the Olympic Games but the final didn't begin well as she fenced well below her usual level, scoring just 14 victories from 35 bouts, and giving her 736 pentathlon points for 23rd position. An outstanding performance from the outside lane of heat three of the 200 metre freestyle swimming, however, saw Coyle post a time of 2:19.46, just shy of her personal best and with other athletes posting slower than usual times, she capitalised and finished seventh fastest to move up to 18th position. In the showjumping event, she lost 40 points with faults at fence five and six, but with others around her also faltering, the Meath athlete moved up to 16th ahead of the combined run/shoot event. Coyle shot well on her first series and maintained her position into the first run lap. A disastrous second shoot dropped her down the field but she worked hard to get back places on the second kilometre. A final third shoot was better, but Coyle was unable to make up any ground and crossed the line in 21st position. However, that finish was enough to improve her Olympic ranking points and she now sits 10th on the clean list with 13 athletes to qualify from the ranking list. Coyle will learn her fate officially on Friday and if, as expected, she is selected for the London 2012 Games, she will carry the Olympic torch on Wednesday 6th June as Meath's sole representative at the Games.