| | Published January 21st, 2008
| Campo Freshman Wins Modern Pentathlon
| |  | | Photos submitted by Dana Chase
|
Daelyn Chase, a freshman at Campolindo High School, won the International Youth A (for ages 17-18) Modern Pentathlon Competition, competing for the United States in Palm Springs on Jan 3.
Modern Pentathlon is a competition where athletes compete in fencing, swimming, running, shooting (air pistols), and horseback stadium jumping during the course of a single day.
The Palm Springs event was the first competition sanctioned by the UIPM (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) that included the new combined run and shoot format. Competitors represented the USA, Canada, Panama, and Great Britain.
In addition to winning the Youth-A division, Daelyn was also the overall winner of the Junior competition (ages 19-21) and had the highest points of the women overall.
Even though Daelyn is a young competitor she's had an early advantage because she has been riding horses since she was 7 years old.
"Good jumper equitation is essential for Modern Pentathlon," says Daelyn's mother, Dana Chase, who shares her daughter's love of horses. "Because athletes have only 20 minutes to warm up and figure out their randomly chosen horse, they must have an exceptional riding and equitation foundation to be able to successfully clear 3'6"-3'9" jumps on a horse they have never ridden before."
Jumping isn't part of the sport at the younger levels. Many Modern Pentathlon athletes, explained Chase, do not begin to train for riding until they are at least 16. Daelyn competes up in age division whenever she can in order to be able to ride and jump.
As a member of Briones Valley Pony Club, Daelyn participated in Tetrathlon competitions (which include running, swimming, shooting, and show jumping). Her success in Tetrathlon paved the way for invitations to Pentathlon training and competitions. During her short tenure as a pentathlete, she has successfully competed across the United States, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, and Switzerland.
Daelyn's goal is to qualify for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore, although its modern pentathlon competition will not include riding since the event is for 14 to 17 year olds.
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 | | Daelyn Chase
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA