POLE vaulter Liam Yarwood was teased by the Essex team managers for being the unluckiest athlete to ever wear the county vest on the way up to the English Schools Championships in Birmingham – but he put that right by the end of the weekend.
The 18-year-old Seevic student had missed out on a medal on countback in both of the previous two English Schools Championships.
Yarwood, who was given the honour of captaining the Essex boys team, was determined not to let that happen again and he did just that, claiming bronze with a clearance of 4.60m.
“Hopefully I’ve changed that unlucky tag now,” said Yarwood, from Rayleigh.
“Last year I lost out on a bronze on countback and the year before I lost out on silver and bronze on countback, which would also have meant an England vest. So it was nice not to have to go to countback this time around!”
Yarwood said he loved the role of captain and despite the high of winning a bronze medal, felt a tinge of disappointment on the coach on the way home.
“That was my last English Schools and that hit me on the way home,” he said. “I love the competition, it’s what you base your season around, you make so many friends and are around quality athletes. So it’s quite hard thinking you won’t do it again.”
Yarwood’s training partner Mitchell Etheridge finished one place further back in fourth after clearing a season’s best height of 4.50m.
From: http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/sport/10543196.Liam_Yarwood_gets_rid_of_unlucky_tag_to_win_pole_vault_bronze_at_English_Schools_Championships/
