UIPM World Cup #2 2011

Jamie Cooke (GBR) has again posted an extraordinary time in the swimming event to win a very fast heat in Group B. Cooke posted a time of 1:53.28, just beating Japan’s Yuuki Fujimori and Ricardo Rego (POL) in a heat where 6 athletes managed to swim under 2 minutes, which is very rare.

World #3 David Svoboda (CZE) put in a solid swim to finish 8th, just ahead of 2008 World Champion Ilya Frolov (RUS) in 10th.

For the full results, please click here http://www.pentathlon.org/results/competition-results/results/pentathlon/734-uipm-world-cup-2/senior/men/semi-final-c

World #1 Aleksander Lesun (RUS) is taking no chances of missing out on qualification again like World Cup #1 by dominating the fencing event in Group A. 2 victories less was bronze medalist from World Cup #1 Mikalai Hayanouski (BLR) and 4 more victories than 2010 World Champion Serguei Karayakin (RUS). 2009 European Champion Ondrej Polivka (CZE) poor form has continued as he sits down in 24th position.

A record number of Women competing in qualification only yielded 2 major causalities in top 20 athletes Elodie Clouvel (FRA) and Samantha Murray (GBR) who both failed to qualify from Group A.

The rest of the big name athletes cruised through qualification and look in great from for Saturday’s Final. Especially Olympic Champion Lena Schoneborn (GER) , World #4 Leila Gyenesei (HUN) and Aya Medany (EGY) who all looked fantastic in qualification and made it all look very easy.

Re-live all the action of the Women's Qualification through pictures http://www.pentathlon.org/media-centre/gallery/category/72-womens-qualification

After the excitement of the Women’s qualification today and some of the big names to miss out on Qualification, such as Elodie Clouvel (FRA) and Samantha Murray (GBR), the Men know that they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to make it into the top 12 with a record 102 men competing to be in the final 36.

World #4 Leila Gyenesei (HUN) kept a cool head to stroll to victory of Group C at World Cup #2. The was closely followed by Aya Medany (EGY) and Katy Livingston (GBR) who hasn’t competed internationally for over 12 months.

There were no surprises as all the top names made it through such as former World #1 Laura Asadauskaite (LTU) ,bronze medalist from the 2008 Olympics Victoria Tereshuk (UKR) and World #11 Freyja Prentice who had an amazing last shoot to sneak into the top 12.

Aya Medany (EGY) will mark her first competition of the year by starting first in the Combined Event in Group C. She will have a 7 second lead over World #4 Leila Gyenesei (HUN) and a massive 26 second lead over British Katy Livingston. Comeback queen Laura Asadauskaite (LTU) will start back in 15th position, however, we know from 2009 how good she is at the Combined Event.

Only the top 12 athletes will qualify for Saturday’s final. A full start list can be found here: http://pentathlon.org/results/competition-results/results/pentathlon/734-uipm-world-cup-2/senior/women/semi-final-c

There were no surprises in group B apart from the ease that World #140 Lavinia Bonessio (ITA) was able to stroll over the finishing line to win the group. All the big guns made it through such as  World #2 Donata Rimsaite (RUS), 2009 World Champion Qian Chen (CHN) Sylvia Czwojdzinska (POL) and silver medalist from World Cup #1 Mhairi Spence (GBR) who had a scare going into the last run but came home strong to easily qualify.

Full results can be found here: http://pentathlon.org/results/competition-results/results/pentathlon/734-uipm-world-cup-2/senior/women/semi-final-b

There has been major shocks in Group A with top athletes Elodie Clouvel (FRA) who started first in the Combined Event and Samantha Murray (GBR) both failing to qualify. Clouvel had severe issues at the first shoot and the same for Samantha Murray with her 2nd shoot, both timing out after 70 seconds. All the other top athletes such as World #1 Lena Schoneborn (GER), World #5 Yane Marques (BRA) Margaux Isaksen (USA) all qualified comfortably and look in great form heading towards Saturday’s Final.

The local crowd had a lot to cheer about with Allessia Mancini And Sabrina Crognale both getting a chance to fight for gold. Lowly ranked Australian Chloe Esposito surprised everyone from coming from nowhere to qualify in 11th position in only her 2nd World Cup.

Eun byeol Kim (KOR) was in amazing form for the first shoot and shot the 5 shots in a staggering 10.7 which breaks the old World Record.

Elodie Clouvel (FRA) has won the swim in Group A and will now start 1st in the Combined Event. The winner of the fencing Ekaterina Khuraskina (RUS) had a solid swim and will start 2nd in the Combined Event 9 seconds behind Clouvel. World #5 Yane Marques (BRA) exceled in the swim by finishing 2nd and will also start 9 seconds behind the leader. They will be closely chased by top 20 athletes Samantha Murray (GBR) and Margaux Isaksen (USA) and also World #1 Lena Schoneborn (GER) who will all start 11 seconds behind.

Due to the record number of Women competing only the top 12 women will qualify for Saturday’s final. See the full results here: http://www.pentathlon.org/results/competition-results/results/pentathlon/734-uipm-world-cup-2