Spence takes world title and almost certain Olympic place

Mhairi Spence produced the performance of her life to win the modern pentathlon World Championship in Rome last night and virtually seal her Olympic selection.

Spence, from Farr, near Inverness, needed to be in the medals to get the Olympic qualifying standard and did so in style by edging out triple Olympic champion Ameie Caze from France in the final event, the combined run-shoot.

She finished with 5,484 points ahead of China’s Qian Chen (5,460) and Great Britain team-mate Samantha Murray, who took the bronze medal with 5,452 points which also gave her the Olympic qualifying standard. Caze was in fourth.

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Spence missed out on Beijing four years ago despite of having the qualifying standard and it now seems certain the 26 year-old will be given the nod by the selectors this time.

Caze led the field before the final event with Spence within striking distance in third and the Scot, who has been working on her running in recent months, came up with the goods in the final event.

The Scot had started the run-shoot in third, 37 seconds behind Caze.

But she shot well and left the shooting range the final time just two seconds behind the Frenchwoman.

She overtook her on early on in the final one-kilometre run and then went away from her towards the end.

“People were cheering me on coming down the home straight at the end and I found some extra energy,” Spence said. “I just kept fighting and fighting all the way. I worked so hard all day to keep it together. When I got to the shooting range I found the flow that we’re always looking for.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m just so happy. I’ve got a great team behind me. Everyone has worked so hard to get me here. We’ve worked really hard for this.

Inverurie’s Freyja Prentice, who already has the Olympic qualifying, could only finish 16th (5,180 points) just a place behind GB team-mate Heather Fell, who won silver at the Beijing Olympics.

There are now three British girls with the qualifying standard but only two will be selected for the Games.

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