Source: Pentathlon GB

GB Trio qualify for European Championships Final

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Kate French, Samantha Murray and Joanna Muir all produced impressive performances today to comfortably qualify for the Senior European Championships final in Sofia. French finished 2nd in Group A with Muir 3rd in Group B whilst Murray battled to 12th in Group A despite having to borrow other athletes equipment after her luggage was left at a UK airport and didn’t arrive in Bulgaria until late in the day.

Team GB 2016 Olympians French and Murray were both placed in qualification Group A so started their day in the fencing salle. French picked up 14 victories with just 6 defeats to sit joint top of the group after the opening discipline whilst Murray lay 8th after 11 victories.

The duo then headed to the pool where Murray’s time of 2:11.13 was the quickest in the group wth French’s 2:18.13 placing her 7th. It meant the British duo headed into the combined event in 1st and 2nd with French holding a slender 6 second lead.

Gravesend born French eventually eased across the line in 2nd with Clitheroe’s Murray 12th meaning both automatically qualified for the final which gets underway tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Senior European Championships debutant Muir was placed in Group B, starting her day with the swim where a strong performance of 2:18.99 left her 7th after the opening discipline. The 21 year old Scot then produced a positive fence of 11 victories and 9 defeats to remain in 7th position heading into her combined event.

A successful day was completed in the closing run-shoot as Muir crossed the line in 3rd, comfortably qualifying for her first major senior final of the year.

The trio will be back in action tomorrow as the Women’s final gets underway with the fencing ranking round, before the remainder of the final on Saturday.

Report courtesy of Pentathlon GB