Zoe Davison produced a stunning display to finish 4th at the Junior World Championships in stifling conditions in Kladno.
The 19-year-old, still in her first year as a junior athlete, produced her best ever individual finish at major championships in any age group after strong performances in all five disciplines in the Czech Republic. British teammates Charlie Follett and Georgia Hannam also performed well with Follett coming home 14th and Hannam 32nd at the end of a long and punishing day in central Europe.
Story of the Day
The women’s final began in the pool with the 200m swim where all three British athletes produced excellent performances to improve on their times from qualifying. It was the youngest member of the team, 19-year-old Davison, who led the way in 2:17.82 with Lancashire’s Hannam and Bristol’s Follett just behind in 2:20.65 and 2:21.65 respectively.
That left the British trio inside the top 15 heading to the fencing hall where once again they all produced top fifteen performances. Hannam and Davison, who were both making their first ever Junior World Championships appearances, were in positive numbers throughout the fence with strong finishes seeing the young Brits both end with 20 victories and 15 defeats from their 35 bouts. Follett, who finished 9th in the Junior European Championships earlier this season, got off to a slow start in the fence but kept battling throughout the remainder of the discipline to also finish with a positive score of 18 victories and 17 defeats.
20-year-old Hannam and 21-year old Follett both added an extra victory in the bonus round meaning all three Pentathlon GB athletes were well placed after the opening two disciplines with Davison in 7th, Hannam 11th and Follett 14th.
University of Bath student Follett was the first Brit into the riding arena, producing a fine display on her allocated horse Pavlicek with just three time penalties seeing her score 297 points. Davison also maintained her push with a strong result, a single time penalty meaning the Gloucestershire born athlete scored 297 with Hannam picking up 249 points for her round in Kladno. That saw Davison move up to 5th and Follett 10th heading into the concluding laser run with Hannam placed in 20th.
In punishing condition, the laser run turned into a battle of attrition but teenager Davison belied her inexperience, with a rapid final shoot and strong final 800m loop seeing her finish 4th at her first ever Junior World Championships. Behind her, an uncharacteristic first two visits to the range for Follett saw her lose ground on those around her, but as had been the case in the fence, the Brit battled back well with a strong second half to the laser run seeing her finish 14th. TASS supported Hannam, competing in her first ever major junior championships, completed the British line-up by coming home 32nd.
Courtesy of Pentathlon GB
