Chapel: Prayers Answered

National Combined Events Championships  –  Stoke – 8/8/2010
U15 Girls Pentathlon
Two years into her training Maike Chapel finally got to compete in all 5 of the disciplines at the national championships in Stoke. Maike has suffered from ankle and tendon problems for the past 2 years and has been unable to compete and complete the demanding pentathlon. In this, her last opportunity as an U15, she certainly did not disappoint. 
The day started well with a new long Jump PB of 4.43 metres – 13cm abover her existing mark.  Still nursing the problematic ankle she took no further part opting to save herself for the next event. The hurdles saw the next PB. She went in to the event with an electric time of 13.17 sec. She finished with a new PB of 12.76sec.  So far so good, could she go on to have 5 PB’s in a day? Well the shot proved a little set back with only 6.97mts. In practice she has been closer to 8.00mts so she was well down on her expected score. However only 6 cms under her PB she still maintained the hope of reaching a very respectable 2350 overall points total which is the UK Power of 10, top 100 score.
Her favoured event, the High Jump was next and anticipation grew as she opened with 1.45mts – a height she would have been happy to finish with last season!  She cruised over 1.45 and 1.48 but regrettably failed at 1.51 a full 7cms under her PB. This was a big disappointment as she was ranked 2nd in this event and it would have catapulted her up the table. Showing great personal strength she duly recovered in the final event, the 800m.  Knowing she needed a new PB to achieve the Power of 10 target score she set off determined. She was rewarded not only with a new PB of 2.min 52.93secs but also a total score of 2359 to ensure her a top 70 UK place.
All in all a great set of performances with a huge relief having had her prayers answered and being able to at last complete the Pentathlon!