OLDS — Local athlete and coach Rachel Andres plans to try again to create a throws pentathlon world record during the last outdoor meet of the season Sept. 24 in Calgary.
Andres attempted to set that record during a masters pentathlon meet Aug. 27.
Unfortunately, she says it was “thwarted by rain and a very hungry baby who needed to nurse between most of my throws (she refuses a bottle).”
Andres did break an Alberta record though in her second attempt out of five.
The throws pentathlon involves doing discus, shot put, javelin, hammer, and weight all in the same day.
The distances athletes obtain in each of those events are then put together and scored as points, somewhat like officials do for the heptathlon and decathlon.
“We knew the world record attempt would need good weather and my baby girl cooperating,” Andres wrote in an email.
“When she is hungry, I just do what warmups I can and attempt to keep loose between competition throws while nursing. I hand her off or put her down quickly to go throw and then resume nursing her.
“After the rain started, she was grumpy and I couldn’t really warm up for competition. So I ended up 500 points short of the 4,114.”
Abigail Ripco of Olds and Natalie Harrison also competed during the meet and both threw personal best (PB) distances.
Despite the rain, Ripco threw a new PB of 24.58 metres (m) in javelin. Harrison threw a new PB of 20.94m in discus and 7.68m in shotput.
“The weather was great until the rain hit, about perfect temperatures,” Andres wrote. “We’re hopeful that we’ll get good weather at the last competition and end on a good note for everyone.”
