In a dramatic finish to the over 16 Schools International Pentathlon, Thaila-Jade Mason fought back to claim a brilliant bronze medal in Glasgow last weekend. But the 800m was not the only drama of the day for the 17year old Bedford & County athlete.
With the events taking place in an unusual order, she placed a lowly 13th of 15 competitors after the shot, despite throwing a personal best of 9.37 metres. But there was drama in the 60m hurdles which almost proved calamitous. She was leading the field when she turned her ankle on landing from the fourth hurdle and limped across the line albeit in a still decent time of 9.16 seconds. For a while it looked as if she might have to withdraw from the competition, but there was no serious damage and she was able to continue.
Thaila’s strongest event the long jump followed where she cut the sand at 5.73 metres, well below her best of the year, but still ahead of all her rivals to gain points on them. First time clearances at all heights saw her equal her lifetime best of 1.66 metres in the high jump to put her in a strong 4thposition just 13 points behind England teammate Isla Pain.
However, the final act was yet to play out. With Isla’s 800 metres best of some three seconds faster than Thaila’s 2m 31.27, the odds were definitely on Isla, but that reckoned without the determination and fight Thaila had within her.
Setting off at a fast yet manageable pace, Thaila was always up with the leading pack. With 200m to go, Thaila moved into 3rd place and then onto the shoulder of the leader, before unleashing a ferocious sprint in the last 80 metres to win the race by less than a metre in a magnificent time of 2 minutes 26.52 seconds., slashing 5 seconds off her previous best in the process.
Only now could the final points be tallied. Thaila’s score of 3676 points secured the bonze by over 100 points and was only 22 points short of the silver.
This pentathlon rounded off Thaila’s most successful year yet with seven medals, including the English Schools gold, at National or International Championships.
