Beijing, September 16 – If the 36 competitors had any nerves heading into today’s shooting at the Fencing Hall they certainly didn’t show it. Germany’s Lena Schoneborn showed a really steady hand and fantastic concentration to take an early lead in the competition by top-scoring with a score of 188 for 1192 competition points. Schoneborn seemed almost relaxed as she prepared for her shots but her early high scores proved she was definitely “in the zone”.
 
One competitor who lived up to all expectations was equal World Record holder Elen Rublevska (LAT). The Latvian’s World Record stands at 190 for 1216 points, and today she was just short of this mark with her score of 183 for 1132 points, to be in equal fifth.
 
The World Record looked to be in danger at the half-way point of the competition. Schoneborn had streaked away to 97 points and four shooters were close behind with 93 points apiece. But a poor back-end to the discipline saw the Record safe for another competition.
 
The competition showed that today will be a very close competition with many pentathletes scoring high in the opening discipline. Russia’s Tatiana Mouratova finished in second-place with a score of 185. Less than 100 competition points separates the top 10 heading into the fencing.
 
The 2004 Olympic Champion Zsuzsanna Voros (HUN) was certainly focused on the task at hand this morning and her scored of 183 helped her to equal fifth position, with Canada’s Monica Pinette, Asastastasia Samusevich (BLR) and Rublevska.
 
Local Chinese competitors Liu Zhou and Xiu Xiu were slightly off the pace, finishing the discipline with scored of 176 and 178 respectively. The 2006 World number one Victoria Tereshuk (UKR) will also be disappointed with her start. She only managed to score 172 and will have a lot of work to do in the next disciplines if she is to challenge the medals at the end of the day. However, recently crowned World Champion Amelie Caze (FRA) had a reasonable morning at the range. She scored 179, for 1084 points, and will be a real threat in the next discipline – the fencing.
 
Next August at the Olympic Games, modern pentathletes will be looking to break the Modern Pentathlon shooting World Record (189 for 1204 points) held by China’s local hero Dong Lean.
 
Top Five Results in shooting:
 
1.     Lena Schoneborn (GER) -1192
2.    Tatiana Mouratova (RUS) -1156
3.    Hanna Arkhipenka (BLR) -1144
4.    Mhairi Spence (GER) -1144
5.    Monica Pinette (CAN) -1132