MPC South
The Modern Pentathlon Club of the South
The Modern Pentathlon Club of the South (MPCS), headquartered in Atlanta, GA is dedicated to promoting the Summer Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon. The sport consists of five different events all combined into a one or two day competition. The sports include the following Olympic competitions:
| Sport | Event | Description | |
| Fencing | Epee Fencing | Round robin of "one touch (point)" bouts. | |
| Swimming | 100 or 200 Meter Freestyle | In pool (25 or 50 m) in lanes. | |
| Riding | Equestrian Show Jumping | Draw for horses; 20 minute warm up over a max. of 5 jumps; 350-450 meter course with 10-12 jumps ranging in height from .9 to 1.2 meters (one triple and a double). | |
| Shooting | 10 Meter Air Pistol | The shoot is now combined with the run. Athletes will have 1:10 to hit 5 targets. There will be three rounds of shooting. See "Running" below. | |
| Running | 2 or 3 Kilometer Cross-Country Run | Chase start with the leader being the competitor with the highest score total after three events. Time handicap according to competitor's score. Finish place determines overall modern pentathlon finish. The run and shoot are now combined. Athletes will run to a shooting station, fire to hit 5 targets, run 1K, fire on 5 targets, run 1K, fire on 5 targets, and run 1K. Runners only have 70 seconds to hit the 5 targets. If they don't hit the 5 targets in the allotted time, they must start running. Lapped runners may be eliminated. | |
The MPCS brochure is now available. Click here to download it.
For a more detailed description of each sport in Modern Pentathlon, please click on the following link for a slide show provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Modern Pentathlon Event Details in conjunction with NBC.
You can also go to the "Inside this Sport" section of NBC's Olympics web site and click on a number of topics (basics, scoring, history, venues, field, etc.) in the middle right hand side of your screen.
For an excellent video about the world's most challenging sport, click here. This video features 2008 Olympic Champion Lena Schoneborn, as she describes what it is like to claim the title of "The World's Greatest Sportswoman."
For a woman's view of the truest of Olympic sports, check out this YouTube Video.
So you want to be an Olympian, try the Modern Pentathlon. Click here to see what it's like to participate in a modern pentathlon.
For more on the Modern Pentathlon, click on Modern Pentathlon an Undervalued Olympic Sport.
We are in the early planning stages for a weekend (one or two days) "Introduction to Modern Pentathlon" camp for youngsters and their parents to be held in the 2009. Please give us your ideas on this via the "Contact Us" link at the top of the page.
Modern Pentathlon Age Groups and Events:
| Age | Category | Swim | Ride | Run |
| 10 & Younger | Youth E | 50 meters | No Ride | 1,000 meters |
| 11 -12 Years | Youth D | 50 meters | No Ride | 1,000 meters |
| 13 -14 Years | Youth C | 100 meters | No Ride | 1,000 meters |
| 15 – 16 years | Youth B | 200 meters | No Ride | 2,000 meters |
| 17 – 18 years | Youth A | 200 meters | Ride not mandatory | 3,000 meters |
| 19 – 21 years | Juniors | 200 meters | 12 Jumps (1.1m max. height) 350-450m Course | 3,000 meters |
| 22 through 39 | Seniors | 200 meters | 12 Jumps (1.2m max. height) 350-450m Course | 3,000 meters |
| 40 and over | Masters | 100 meters | 10 Jumps (.9 - 1.05m max. height) 350-450m Course | 2,000 meters |
Palm Srpings, CA (June 6, 2009) - The MPCS had its first club member compete in the USA Modern Pentathlon Nationals. Megan Melgaard of the Georgia Chapter represented the MPCS. She competed in the Senior division and won the swim with a time of 2:15.75 good for 1,172 MP points. Melgaard did not compete in the ride. This was also a NORCECA (N. America and Caribbean) competition. If the riding scores were dropped, Melgaard finished fourth out of 10 Americans in the US division and 10th out of 21 in the NORCECA division. Not bad for only having taken up the sport a month ago! Click on USA Nationals for pictures.
The World Cup recently concluded in Mexico City - For highlights of the women's combined shoot/run event click here. For highlights of the men's combined shoot/run event click here.
UIPM Vote to Combine the Shoot and Run (Nov. 22,2008 Guatemala) - The UIPM (international governing body for Modern Pentathlon) voted 32 to 12 to combine the shoot with the run, similar to the winter Olympics' Biathlon. The combined event should be more spectator friendly. Click here for more info on the combined event.
Albena, Bulgaria (Sept. 24, 2008) - US
Olympian Margaux Isaksen wins World Youth A (18 and under) Championships.
Click
here for details. See the exciting recap of the Women's Olympic Modern Pentathlon on
the
US Olympian Sam Sacksen kept a diary in Beijing. Click here to read his recap of the competition.
USA, (July 1, 2008) USA Pentathlon announced the following Modern Pentathlon team to represent the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Beijing:
Men: Sam Sacksen of Somerset, PA & Eli Bremer of Monument, CO
Women: Margaux Isaksen of Fayetteville, AR & Shelia Taormina of Livonia, MI
Both of the women on the U.S. team are making Olympic history. At 16 years of age, Isaksen will be the youngest woman ever to compete for the U.S. in the Modern Pentathlon at the Olympics and the second youngest woman in history to compete in this event at the Olympics. She got her Modern Pentathlon start in fencing. Check out Isaksen's web site at Gauxgirl. Taormina made history as the first female athlete to compete in three different Olympic sports (Swimming - gold medal in 1996, triathlon in 2000 and 2004, and Modern Pentathlon in 2008).
16 Year old Olympian Margaux Isaksen (L :Epee Fencing; R: 10 meter air pistol).
One
of the big stories of the Games for Modern Pentathlon is 39 year old American Sheila
Taormina (University of Georgia graduate) who will make her fourth Olympic appearance. But this will be an
Olympic record third different sport for Taormina. She won a medal in swimming in 1996,
participated in triathlon in 2000 and 2004, and now has qualified for Modern
Pent in 2008. Read about Taormina's Olympic performance at
NBCOlympics MP Taormina,
as she set an Olympic record time in winning the swim (200m freestyle).
In Beijing,
Taormina (L aboard LiangLiang in the 2008 Olympic Modern Pentathlon ride) also
tied for first in the ride with a perfect score of 1200 points and turned what
started out as a tough day into a good one. This proves what a tough
competitor Taormina is. To read more about Taormina's Olympic performance
click on the
USOC's
Taormina Finds Satisfaction in the Struggle article.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Canadian National Modern Pentathlon Championships (August 4-5, 2007) - MPCS member George Sanderlin brought home the bronze medal for the United States in the Men's Masters Category in his first full modern pentathlon (including the ride) ever. See "Press" section below for more on the Canadian Championships.
Griffin, GA, Georgia Games 10 Meter Air Pistol Championship (July 7, 2007) - MPCS member Sanderlin won the gold medal for the second consecutive year by capturing the age group Georgia Games title in the Men's 10 Meter Air Pistol competition which is an Olympic event.
Shooting for a Cure - MPCS member Sanderlin to lead "Shooting for a Cure" benefit at USA Shooting Nationals as a fund raiser for the Prostate Cancer Foundation June 21-22, 2007. George's fundraising goal is $300. He will be shooting in the 10 meter air pistol division which is conducted over two days with 60 shots each day. A perfect score for a day is 600 (all "10's). Last year at Nationals, George shot a two day total of 917. At the Southeast US Invitational (US World Cup team selection match), George improved his two day total score to 985 (500 / 485). Please support MPC South member Sanderlin as he "Shoots for a Cure" for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Please go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation's web site, click on "Donate" then enter the First Name: "George" and the Last Name: "Sanderlin" or go directly to George's PCF Donation Page. On George's behalf, MPC South thanks you for your generosity. Stay tuned for updates on donation totals and the competition.
SHOOTING FOR A CURE UPDATES FROM FT. BENNING, GA AT THE USA SHOOTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Ft. Benning, GA, USA Shooting National Championships (June 22, 2007) - "Shooting for a Cure" finished with $500 raised for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, well above the goal of $300. MPCS member Sanderlin completed the competition with a second day score of 477, not a good as the previous day total. This gave George 979 total points good for a ranking of 61st in the United States. Thanks to everyone who supported the "Shooting for a Cure" Campaign.
Results from 2006 Canada National Modern Pentathlon Championships
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MPCS CONTACT: Executive Director - George Sanderlin; email: Executive Director@MPCSouth.com Click here for a profile of the Executive Director
CALENDAR OF COMPETITIONS (check link for more details):
| Date | Event | Venue | Time | Click Link For Details |
| 2/24-27/11 | World Cup # 1 | Palm Springs, CA | TBA |
 |
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Shooting: North Georgia International Shooting Club , Georgia Competitive Shooters
Fencing: Fencing Star Academy; Dunwoody Fencing Club
Swimming: Total Immersion
Riding: Cooper Sandy Farm
Running:Atlanta Track Club
If you or your child are interested in learning more about trying the exciting first true multi-sport of the Olympic Games, please send us an email. We will contact you and conduct a free evaluation. As a result, this could include an in-depth introduction to the sport, and potentially a preliminary training plan. Click here to see how the Modern Pentathlon made an Olympic dream come true for 16 year old Margaux Isaksen.
Related
Sites & Supporters:
Modern Pentathlon:
NBC - Summer Olympics Modern Pentathlon - The Road to Beijing
International Olympic Committee - Modern Pentathlon
Canada Modern Pentathlon Association
Ontario Modern Pentathlon Association
N. & Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) Pentathlon
Shooting:
Fencing:
Swimming:
Equestrian:
Running:
Masters Sports:
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2009 USA & NORCECA Nationals, Women's Senior Division, Palm Springs, CA
2007 Canadian Modern Pentathlon Championships - Calgary, Alberta (Click on links in table below)
USA Shooting Nationals (June 2007)
USA Shooting Nationals (June 2006)
USAF (Fencing Nationals - July 2006)
Canada Modern Pentathlon Championships (July 2006)
Masters Set Marks at World Modern Pentathlon Championships - September 22, 2006 . To see the online article from Swimming World magazine click here.
Picture in USA Shooting magazine of MPCS member at Canada Nationals for Modern Pentathlon.
An article on MPCS Executive Director George Sanderlin appeared in the January 2006 edition of the Atlanta Sports and Fitness magazine. Click here to download the pdf article.
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Last updated: 04/28/11